The fourth edition of the Oriental Cup kicked off on Tuesday at Dr. Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi, with defending champions Delhi Public School, RK Puram (Boys' category) and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Faridabad (Girls' category) securing commanding 5-0 victories in their opening matches.
Dominant Starts for Title Holders
DPS RK Puram defeated Vasant Valley School 5-0 in the Boys' category. After a goalless first half, Abhav Bhardwaj broke the deadlock in the 18th minute and scored twice more within eight minutes to complete a hat-trick. Aditya Lal and Ridit Dang added a goal each to seal the win.
In the Girls' category, Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Faridabad also posted a 5-0 victory over Navy Children School. Somya opened the scoring in the eighth minute and went on to score four goals in the match, while Ishu added the fifth in the 24th minute.
Rohit Kumar Inspires Young Footballers
Indian footballer Rohit Kumar attended the opening ceremony as Chief Guest and interacted with the participating students. According to a press release, Kumar said, "It is wonderful to see a tournament like the Oriental Cup giving young footballers a platform to showcase their talent and passion for the game. Watching these students reminded me of my own school days, when tournaments like these motivated us to dream bigger and work harder. Talent alone is not enough—dedication, love for the sport, and opportunities like the Oriental Cup are what help shape the next generation of footballers."
Other Results from Day 1
The opening day featured seven matches across Boys' and Girls' categories, plus an exhibition match. In the Boys' category, Navy Children School beat Venkateshwar International School 3-1, Sanskriti School edged Modern School 1-0, and Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj defeated Dev Samaj Modern School 3-0.
In Girls' action, Vasant Valley School beat DPS RK Puram 3-0, and Modern School defeated former champions Sanskriti School 4-0. The exhibition match between NGOs STRIVE and Mera India Mera Adhikaar (MIMA) ended 1-1 after regulation time, with STRIVE winning 3-1 on penalties.
Tournament Details
The Oriental Cup 2026 runs from July 7 to July 16, featuring over 1,500 student-athletes from more than 48 teams across Delhi-NCR. The fourth edition boasts a more than doubled prize pool and a Rs 2.5 lakh scholarship programme for 10 deserving student-athletes. Title sponsor is Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt. Ltd., with Nivia Sports as Football Partner, Ocean Beverages as Hydration Partner, and Central Park Resorts as Associate Partner.
