Udaan U-20 Border Girls Football Championship 2026 kickstarts
Udalguri, May 25
The grand inaugural ceremony of the Udaan U-20 Border Girls Football Championship 2026 was successfully held at the football ground of Bhooteachang Tea Estate in Udalguri, Assam. The special tournament has been organised with the aim of promoting women's empowerment, sports development, and encouraging young girl footballers from border areas, tea garden communities, and backward regions.
The Deputy Commissioner of Udalguri district, Joy Bikash, attended the event as the Chief Guest, while Col Vivek Sharma, Deputy Commander of the Red Horns Artillery Brigade of the Indian Army, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.
Besides them, Colonel Bipin Yadav, Colonel B.S. Choudhury, Lieutenant Colonel Deepak Kumar, and Inspector Ravi Shankar Prasad of the 37 SSB Battalion attended the programme as distinguished guests and encouraged the participating players.
At the beginning of the programme, the Chief Guest and invited dignitaries were warmly welcomed with traditional Dhol-Mandal performances and cultural presentations. The guests were later felicitated with traditional Assamese gamosas and mementoes as a mark of respect.
Following this, Colonel Amit Yadav, Deputy Commander of the Indian Army, formally inaugurated the championship by cutting the ceremonial ribbon. After the inauguration, the Deputy Commissioner of Udalguri, Joy Bikash, officially launched the tournament by kicking the football to mark the beginning of the championship.
Before the commencement of the match, the participating players were introduced to the dignitaries. The guests encouraged the players to compete with discipline, confidence, and true sportsmanship.The opening match of the tournament was played between Bamunjuli Team and Hatigarh Team, where Bamunjuli Team secured a convincing 5-2 victory. Although the Hatigarh team was defeated, their participation and sporting spirit were appreciated, and participation certificates were awarded by Aadhunik India Foundation as recognition of their efforts.
This championship has been specially organised for young girl footballers, providing them with an excellent platform to showcase their football talent. Many girls from the tea garden and border areas have received an opportunity to display their potential through this initiative.
At the conclusion of the programme, Aadhunik India Foundation expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Indian Army, 37 SSB Battalion, local administration, volunteers, and all supporters for their valuable cooperation in making the event a grand success.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great initiative! But I hope this isn't just a one-time event. We need sustained investment in infrastructure and coaching for these girls. Our border areas have so much untapped talent. Let's hope the Aadhunik India Foundation keeps the momentum going.
Seeing Bamunjuli win 5-2 is awesome, but the real victory is that Hatigarh girls showed up and played with spirit. Participation certificates are a nice touch—every girl who stepped on that field is a champion. This is how we build a sporting nation, one community at a time. 🇮🇳⚽
As someone who follows grassroots sports globally, this is exactly what we need more of. The Army's involvement adds credibility and security. Kudos to all the organizers and the young athletes. This is how you empower communities!
The Dhol-Mandal performances and traditional gamosa felicitation really capture the spirit of Assam. Love how they blended culture with sports. And the fact that these girls are from tea garden communities—they face so many challenges. This tournament is a ray of hope. 🌟
Impressive to see the coordination between the Indian Army, SSB, and local bodies. But I'm curious—are there plans to expand this to other border districts? Udalguri is just the start. We need a national-level pipeline for these talented girls to reach professional leagues.
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