The 64th Subroto Cup International Football Tournament concluded with Assam emerging victorious in the Girls Under 17 category. The Assam team showcased an impressive performance, securing the title by defeating West Bengal with a score of 3-1 in the final match. Football enthusiasts enjoyed 31 thrilling matches following the commencement of the Girls category on August 19th. The final saw Betkuchi High School from Assam triumph over Nandaizar Adivasi Pashili High School from West Bengal. Despite creating several opportunities, West Bengal was unable to capitalize. Conversely, Assam established a lead through effective attacking and defensive strategies. Milina Brahma scored in the 24th minute for Assam, with the first goal by Sayshree Sangma in the 12th minute and another by Mari Mech in the 29th minute, giving Assam a 3-1 advantage. Neha Baroi scored the sole goal for Bengal in the 21st minute. The closing ceremony was graced by dignitaries including Air Marshal Narmadeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, and Arjuna Awardee and Paralympic gold medalist, Navdeep Singh, a para-athlete and javelin thrower. The event featured a spectacular award distribution. The day began with a remarkable performance by the Air Warrior Drill Team, followed by a performance from the students of the Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute. The Subroto Cup encompasses all three categories (Under-17 Girls, Under-15 Boys, and Under-17 Boys), with 200 matches scheduled to be completed by September 25th. Subsequently, players scouted will be given the opportunity to train in Germany through the News9 Indian Tigers and Tigresses talent hunt initiative by TV9 Network. This season’s focus was the girls’ category. The tournament will move to Bengaluru for the Sub-Junior Boys Under-15 matches from September 2nd to 11th. It will then return to Delhi for the Junior Boys Under-17 matches. Navdeep Singh, the Indian para-athlete and javelin thrower who won a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, commended the News9 Tigers and Tigresses football talent hunt initiative by the TV9 Network. He highlighted that this initiative would help Indian boys and girls learn from international coaches, improving their game. He noted the differences in playing styles between international and Indian footballers and expressed that such initiatives would help bridge this gap. Singh emphasized that the Subroto Cup provides a significant platform for aspiring professional footballers. He also suggested the importance of more domestic tournaments to identify talent and prepare athletes for the 2036 Olympics. Group Captain Gajanan Yadav, the Honorary Secretary of the Subroto Cup, praised the News9 Indian Tigers and Tigresses football talent hunt initiative by the TV9 Network, hoping for its continued support.
