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The 65th edition of the Subroto Cup International Football Tournament began on 18 August 2026 at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi, with Air Marshal S Sivakumar, Air Officer-in-Charge Administration and Vice Chairman of the Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society, as Chief Guest.
The edition features 108 teams across three categories — Junior Girls (Under-17), Junior Boys (Under-17) and Sub-Junior Boys (Under-15) — divided into eight groups per category, with group winners advancing to the knockout stage.
The opening day's featured match in the Junior Girls (U-17) category saw Meghalaya beat Chandigarh 2-0, the goals scored by Ms Genefa and Ms Wandari; weightlifter Lovepreet Singh was Guest of Honour.
Born 5 March 1911 in Calcutta; died 8 November 1960 in Tokyo. He took over as Chief of the Air Staff on 1 April 1954 from Air Marshal Gerald Gibbs, becoming the first Indian to head the Indian Air Force, and is widely called the 'Father of the Indian Air Force'. The tournament is named in his honour.
Formed in 1960; organises the Subroto Cup under the aegis of the Indian Air Force. Its Vice Chairman is the Air Officer-in-Charge Administration of the IAF — Air Marshal S Sivakumar, who opened this edition.
The governing body of football, futsal and beach soccer in India. Founded on 23 June 1937; affiliated to FIFA in 1948; a founding member of the Asian Football Confederation, which it joined in 1954. It has signed an MoU with the Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society to promote grassroots football.
The traditional Delhi home of the Subroto Cup. Formerly the Delhi Gate Stadium, it was renovated and reopened in 2007 with a listed capacity of about 35,000, and houses the offices of Football Delhi. It has also hosted the Durand Cup, the DCM Trophy, the Delhi Football League and the 2007 and 2009 Nehru Cup finals.
A national multi-sport competition for school and college-age athletes, launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (initially as the Khelo India School Games) to build a talent pipeline from the school level upward.
Key: Talent identified at the Games is supported under the Khelo India scheme; the 8th edition, in 2026, is to be hosted by Telangana.
A school-level football competition run since 1960-61 by the Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society under the Indian Air Force, to spread football among school children and give young players a national platform.
Key: Separate Junior Girls (U-17), Junior Boys (U-17) and Sub-Junior Boys (U-15) categories; the 65th edition drew 108 teams, and school teams from other countries also participate.
General Awareness > Sports — tournaments, trophies and their associated sports
General Awareness > Sports and Static GK
General Knowledge > Indian Armed Forces — history and personalities
Prelims > Current Events of National Importance
Tournament-and-trophy questions appear in nearly every SSC and railway General Awareness paper; the 'first Indian Chief of the Air Staff' fact is a recurring defence-exam item.
An inter-school football tournament held since 1960-61, organised by the Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society under the Indian Air Force.
The professional head of the Indian Air Force; Subroto Mukerjee was the first Indian to hold the office, from 1 April 1954.
All India Football Federation — the national governing body for football, founded 23 June 1937, headquartered at Football House, Dwarka, Delhi.
A national multi-sport event for school and college-age athletes launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.