CIL Cup 2026: Nandajhar Chatra Samaj and Ramnagar CC Claim Glory
Nandajhar Chatra Samaj and Murshidabad Ramnagar CC claim men's and women's titles at the CIL Cup 2026 Grand Finale in Purulia.
The MSA Ground in Purulia witnessed high-octane football action as the CIL Cup 2026 Grand Finale reached its thrilling conclusion on Wednesday. In a tournament dedicated to grassroots talent and supported by Coal India Limited, Nandajhar Chatra Samaj and Murshidabad Ramnagar CC emerged as the champions in the men's and women's categories, respectively.
The event was graced by the Member of Parliament from Purulia, Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, who witnessed the culmination of a competition that brought together promising footballers from various zones across the region.
Men's Final: A Sudden-Death Drama
The men's championship match was a nail-biter that pushed both teams to their absolute limits. Nandajhar Chatra Samaj, representing the Siliguri zone, faced off against Canning Dishehara from the Howrah zone in a clash that refused to be decided in regular time.
With the score locked and the tie-breaker failing to produce a winner, the match headed into the high-pressure environment of a penalty shootout. The drama reached its peak during sudden death, where goalkeeper Dip Sarkar became the hero of the hour. Sarkar's crucial save against Canning Dishehara's Biswajit Das sealed a 5-4 victory for Nandajhar Chatra Samaj.
For his match-winning intervention, Dip Sarkar was rightfully named the Player of the Match. This victory was the crowning achievement for the Siliguri zone side, who had previously edged out Durgapur zone's Kuchia XI FC 1-0 in the semifinals. Canning Dishehara had entered the final after a convincing 2-0 win over Krishnanagar zone's Kalpana Trust.
Women's Final: Ramnagar CC Takes the Crown
The women's final was equally intense, featuring a showdown between Murshidabad Ramnagar CC of the Krishnanagar zone and Siliguri zone's Vivekananda School. In a tightly contested battle, Ramnagar CC managed to break the deadlock to secure a 1-0 victory.
The decisive goal was scored by Lakhimoni Hansda, ensuring the trophy headed to the Krishnanagar zone. While Hansda provided the finish, her teammate Rupali Bauri delivered a standout performance that earned her the Player of the Match award.
Ramnagar CC's path to the title included a 1-0 semifinal win over Durgapur zone's Pakbirra Bhairab Academy. Their opponents, Vivekananda School, had also progressed via a 1-0 victory over Howrah zone's GB Dham FC.
Rewards for Grassroots Excellence
The CIL Cup 2026 provided significant financial incentives to reward the hard work of the emerging athletes. The prize pool for the tournament totaled Rs 8 lakh, distributed as follows:
- Champions (Men & Women): Rs 2 lakh each
- Runners-up (Men & Women): Rs 1 lakh each
- Third and Fourth Place (Men & Women): Rs 50,000 each
Beyond the trophies and prize money, the tournament served as a vital platform for grassroots footballers, allowing them to compete in a structured environment and test their skills against diverse opponents from different zones.