Agartala (Tripura), July 11: The prestigious ‘Neeljyoti’ Rakhal Shield Knockout Football Tournament commenced with much fanfare on Friday evening at Agartala’s Umakanta Mini Stadium, igniting a wave of excitement among football enthusiasts across Tripura.
Inaugurated under floodlights, the opening ceremony witnessed a blend of sporting passion, tradition, and a hopeful vision for the future of football in the state.
Tourism Minister Sushanta Chowdhury inaugurated the tournament and interacted with players of the two teams featured in the curtain-raiser match.
The event was further graced by the presence of veteran footballer Dipankar Deb, who ceremonially kicked off the tournament.
Also in attendance were Pranab Sarkar, the president of the Tripura Football Association, Amit Chowdhury, the secretary of the Association, along with several other officials and sports dignitaries.
In his inaugural address, Minister Chowdhury highlighted the transformative changes taking place in Tripura’s sports ecosystem.
“The enthusiasm we are witnessing today is reflective of a larger shift,” he said.
“The government is committed to improving infrastructure, supporting athletes, and organizing quality tournaments like this to revive the sport at the grassroots,” he said.
He further expressed confidence that the Rakhal Shield Tournament would serve as a significant platform for emerging talent and help reignite passion for the sport among the youth.
Tournament Format and Teams
This year’s edition features ten teams of Agartala. These are : Egiye Chalo Sangha, Forward Club, Lal Bahadur Byayamagar, Ramkrishna Club, Nine Bullets Club, Kalyan Samiti, Town Club, Blood Mouth Club, Jewels Association and Birendra Club.
The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of ₹60,000, while the runner-up will receive ₹40,000, along with glittering trophies.
Notably, Egiye Chalo Sangha are the defending champions, having clinched the title last year, while Ramkrishna Club finished as runners-up.
I Earlier Report: Rakhal Shield Knockout Football Tournament : Ten Teams Battle for Glory l
Opening Clash: Lal Bahadur Byayamagar Stage Dramatic Comeback to Sink Birendra Club 2-1
In the thrilling opening match of the tournament, Lal Bahadur Byayamagar pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Birendra Club 2-1 in a fiercely contested quarter-final.
The game, held under the bright lights of Umakanta Stadium, saw both teams exhibit high-tempo, aggressive football from the very first whistle.
Birendra Club drew first blood late in the first half, when a swift counter-attack earned them a penalty. Lal Nun Huria Darling confidently slotted it home during injury time to give Birendra a 1-0 advantage at halftime.
However, the tide turned in the second half. Lal Bahadur, dressed in their red and yellow kits, launched a spirited counteroffensive.
Their efforts paid off when Richard found the back of the net, leveling the score at 1-1 and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Despite numerous attempts from both sides to score the decisive goal during regulation time, the deadlock persisted, leading to extra time.
It was in the 14th minute of the first half of extra time that Richard once again rose to the occasion, capitalizing on a fast break to score his second and the match-winning goal for Lal Bahadur.
Birendra Club tried valiantly to recover, but their efforts fell short as the final whistle confirmed their elimination from the tournament.
With this victory, Lal Bahadur Byayamagar have booked their place in the semi-finals, where they will face Nine Bullets Club on July 15.
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The pulsating encounter set a high bar for the rest of the tournament, reaffirming the Rakhal Shield’s status as a premier footballing event in the state.
