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After a year’s gap, India’s oldest football tournament, the Durand Cup will be revived this season to witness the 128th edition of the tournament from August 28 to September 11 to be played in the capital New Delhi across two venues – the Ambedkar Stadium and the Harbaksh Stadium.
Though defending champions Salgaocar FC are not a part of the tournament, this years Durand Cup will see a total of 12 teams split into two groups of six teams each facing each other in the league stage with the top two teams from each group making it into the semifinals.
The champions of the 128th Durand Cup would receive the trophy and Rs 45 lakhs in prize money, while the runners-up would be richer by Rs 20 lakhs. The two losing semifinalist will receive Rs 5 lakhs, while there would also be individual awards.
A total of six teams would make their debut in this historic tournament this year in DSK Shivajians FC, Minerva Academy FC, Gangtok Himalayan SC, Aizawl FC, NEROCA FC and LoneStar Kashmir FC; while the Indian Armed Forces would see representation by Army Red, Army Green, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
GROUPINGS
Pool A: Sporting Clube de Goa, DSK Shivajians FC, Minerva Academy FC, Gangtok Himalayan SC, Indian Navy, Army Green
Pool B: Aizawl FC, Dempo SC, NEROCA FC, LoneStar Kashmir FC, Army Red, Indian Air Force
