Sri Vijaya Puram: For the first time in the history of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, an Under-17 girls football team will represent the islands at the 65th Subroto Mukherjee Cup International Football Tournament in New Delhi from 18 to 27 August 2026, officials said on Friday.
Send-off at Netaji Stadium
A blessing and send-off ceremony was held at Netaji Stadium, Sri Vijaya Puram, where Ms. Purva Garg, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, extended her best wishes to the players and officials. The team, which qualified after Govt. Girls Sr. Sec. School won the state-level tournament held in the third week of April 2026, has been in advanced training since 5 May 2026 under qualified coaches and physical education teachers.
Ms. Garg interacted with the young footballers during the event, encouraging them to perform to the best of their abilities and expressing hope that the team would make the islands proud in the national championship. The Principal of Govt. Girls Sr. Sec. School, Smti. Archana Singh, was present at the ceremony along with team officials.
Preparation and coaching
According to organisers, the squad has been undergoing a rigorous coaching schedule at Netaji Stadium since May, focusing on fitness, tactical drills and match practice. The training programme was led by qualified coaches and physical education teachers attached to the school and local sporting bodies.
- Qualification: Winners of the state-level girls U-17 tournament (3rd week of April 2026)
- Training period: From 5 May 2026 at Netaji Stadium
- Tournament: 65th Subroto Mukherjee Cup, New Delhi, 18–27 August 2026
Significance for local sport
Officials framed the participation as a landmark moment for girls' football in the islands. Local administrators said the exposure at a national-level tournament will provide young players with competitive experience and the chance to measure themselves against peers from other states and institutions.
Grassroots development and school-level competitions have been cited by sports authorities as key to broadening the talent pool in the islands. This maiden U-17 girls entry into the Subroto Cup underscores the outcomes of that focus, bringing attention to coaching, facilities and tournament opportunities for female athletes.
What the Subroto Cup means
The Subroto Mukherjee Cup is one of India's long-standing inter-school football tournaments and regularly features strong teams from across the country. Participation typically exposes school teams to higher standards of play, scouting by academies and access to improved competitive infrastructure.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Team | Andaman & Nicobar Islands U-17 Girls |
| Qualification | Winners, State-level U-17 girls tournament (Govt. Girls Sr. Sec. School) |
| Training start | 5 May 2026, Netaji Stadium |
| Tournament dates | 18–27 August 2026, New Delhi |
Local expectations and next steps
Community members and school officials said the trip is expected to inspire more girls to take up the sport. Administrators noted the importance of continued support for coaching, equipment and travel to enable regular participation in national events.
Following the send-off ceremony, the team will depart for New Delhi to take part in the tournament. Officials did not release the final squad list or details of fixtures in the islands' contingent draw at the time of the ceremony.
Local sports bodies and schools will monitor the team's progress at the Subroto Cup and plan follow-up measures to build on any lessons learned from national competition, organisers said.
