PRESS RELEASE

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The 121st OSIAN’s-DURAND CUP KICKS-OFF AT DR. AMBEDKAR STADIUM

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New Delhi, 20th August, 2008

The 121st edition of the Osian’s Durand Cup, which is the third oldest football tournament in the world, will be co-hosted by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) along with the Pioneering archive and auction house Osians- Connoisseurs of Art Pvt. Ltd and a leading Sports Management Company Infinity Optimal Solutions Pvt. Ltd (Sports & Leisure) .The opening ceremony of the 121st Osian’s- Durand Cup is going to take place at Dr.Ambedkar Stadium on 21st August.

The Pre-Quarterfinalwill commence from 21st Aug- 26th Aug, which will have 8 teams and will be played in the league format.Army 11, N.D.Heroes; Tata Football Academy & Salgaocar from Goaare directly placed in the Pre- Quarterfinal League,along with the four teams Assam Rifles, BSF, ASC Centre and ONGC who have made their grade from the knockout qualifying round that concluded from 8th Aug- 19th Aug. Whereas the Quarterfinal League will include the I League giants such as JCT Mill, Mahindra United, Churchill Brothers, Sporting Club de Goa, Air India along with this years II Division I League winner Mumbai FC, besides the other two teams who qualify from the Pre- Quarterfinal League.

A total of Rs. 20 lacs will be paid as prize money to encourage the players & teams and to infuse more enthusiasm among them - Rs. 8 Lacs for the winners and Rs 6 Lacs for the Runners Up. Cash awards will also be given out to the Best Player of the Tournament, Best Player of the Final Match, Best Coach and Best Goalkeeper. Additionally the Golden Boot for the Highest Goal Scorer will be awarded as well.

Following the success of 120th edition of Osian’s Durand Cup, this year also the semifinal and finals will be played under the floodlights, facilitating better playing conditions and better viewing to the capital’s spectators.

Further, to update football lovers across the globe is the official web partner of the event and will provide reports, match statistics and images of the Osian’s-Durand Cup and for this Indianfootball.com has created a Durand Cup special site

They have also included a media zone to the website. Media can log-in with following data.

Username: media

Password: durand2008

Steel Authority of India (SAIL) as a part of its 50th Year celebration is supporting the Osian’s Durand Cup as an associate sponsor. Adidas being the official partner will bring forward the official match ball “Teamgeist” to be used in this year’s tournament as well. Radio One fostering its alliance with the oldest football tournament for the second consecutive year is again the Radio Partner.

DD Sports being the TV Partners will telecast the Semi-finals and Finals live with highlights of the matches. The Quarterfinal league will also be broadcasted live on DD Sports.

The 121st edition of the Osian’s Durand Cup promises to be an exciting beginning to the Indian football calendar, especially as the ONGC I League is scheduled to begin from the 2nd week of September, one can be assured that the likes of JCT Mill, Mahindra United, Churchill brothers and many more will be here for nothing else but capital supremacy.

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For further details please contact:

Nidhi RaoM+ 91 9971073322 T+ 91 11 46018571/72/73 E

Joydeep Das M+ 91 9891670362 E