Date:30/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/30/stories/2008083057391800.htm

Sport - Football

Change in Subroto Cup format

NEW DELHI: The format of the Subroto Cup football tournament has been changed this year with the introduction of a preliminary round.

Due to the change in format, school teams will have to go through a screening competition before being eligible for the main round.

The 49th edition of the tournament, to begin on September 2, will have under-14 and 17 age-group competitions. The under-14 category will have 28 teams, while the under-17 category will have 32 sides in the main round.

Besides the Indian schools, teams from Switzerland, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will participate. The Swiss team, FC Kushnat, will be an under-14 club side.

“We have changed the format a bit this time. We have asked the schools to host the preliminaries,” said Air Marshall Nirmal Verma at a press conference, here on Thursday. The champion school in the under-17 category will win a purse of Rs. 1 lakh, while the runner-up will take home Rs. 60,000. The best player and the most promising player of the tournament will be awarded a gearless scooter along with a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 each. — Sports Reporter