President unveils 134th Durand Cup trophy

Why in news?

• President Draupadi Murmu unveiled three trophies of the Durand Cup Tournament 2025 at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan and formally flagged off the event.

Key Points:

• The cups unveiled include-
  • Durand Cup Trophy – The original and main trophy of the tournament.
  • President’s Cup – The exclusive trophy presented by the President of India.
  • Shimla Trophy – A symbol of the historical legacy of the tournament.
• The trophy tour will be held in various cities of the 5 host states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur.
• The tournament will commence on 23 July 2025 and conclude with a spectacular final on 23 August 2025. 

Durand Cup:

• The Durand Cup was founded in 1888 by Sir Henry Durand in Shimla.
• Its aim is to promote the love of football, inspire and encourage youth towards the sport.
• It is the oldest football tournament in Asia and the third oldest in the world.
• Initially it was held for the British Army.
•  This has made this tournament no longer limited to the army but has become a prestigious competition at the national and international level.
• The tournament has three trophies – Durand Cup Trophy, Shimla Trophy and President's Cup.
• This tournament is organized under the aegis of the Indian Army and is considered a symbol of military-civil unity.