Nehru Cup

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Nehru Cup
The Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel and the CMD, ONGC, Shri R.S. Sharma, launching the 2nd ONGC Nehru Cup, in New Delhi on August 06, 2009.jpg
The new Nehru Cup trophy being unveiled by then Minister for Civil Aviation, Praful Patel, in New Delhi, August 6, 2009.
Organising body AIFF
Founded1982;42 years ago (1982)
Abolished2012;12 years ago (2012)
Region India
Number of teams5 (2012)
Related competitions Tri-Nation Series
Intercontinental Cup
Last championsFlag of India.svg  India
(3rd title)
Most successful team(s)Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
(4 titles)

The Nehru Cup was an international football tournament organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), named after the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. It was launched in 1982, but was not held from 1998 to 2006. After the trophy was won by Iraq in 1997, it was reinstated only in 2007 before officially being held last in 2012 and was replaced in 2017.

Contents

History

Overview (1982–2012)

The iconic Eden Gardens stadium, hosted all matches of the inaugural edition of Nehru Cup. Eden Gardens under floodlights during a match.jpg
The iconic Eden Gardens stadium, hosted all matches of the inaugural edition of Nehru Cup.

Nehru Cup was launched in 1982 by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in memory of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, held in Calcutta. [2] Known as "ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) Nehru Cup" for sponsorship reasons, it was held once every 2 years. [3] The first edition was inaugurated by Nehru's daughter, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Uruguay lifted the trophy with a 2–0 win against China. It was not held from 1998 to 2007. [3]

India vs Argentina match at the Eden Gardens during the 1984 edition India v argentina 1984.jpg
India vs Argentina match at the Eden Gardens during the 1984 edition

The tournament was mainly started to popularise football in India, [4] and the hosts won for the first time in 2007 beating Syria. [5] [6] [7]

North Korea became the first Asian team to win the trophy in 1993 edition, defeating Romania B 2–0. [8]

Nehru Club Cup (1990)

In 1990, the "Jawaharlal Nehru Centenary Club Cup" [9] (to celebrate the birth centenary of Nehru) was organized in place of Nehru Cup, which became the only international club tournament held in the country. [10] [11] The tournament was won by Paraguayan side Club Olimpia after their 1–0 win against Argentine club Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, in which Luis Monzón scored the winner. [10] [12]

Mohammedan Sporting Club was the only Indian team to qualify for semi-finals. [10] They defeated Zambia national team 1–0 and FC Metalist 1925 Kharkiv 1–0, before losing 2–0 to Argentine side Gimnasia Esgrima. [10] In the semi-final, Mohammedan lost 1–0 to the eventual champions, Paraguayan outfit Club Olimpia. [10] [13]

TV coverage

The first Nehru Cup in 1982 was covered by Prabir Roy with a 5 on-line camera operation. This was long before Doordarshan started the same during the Delhi Asian Games in November 1982. This was apparently the first colour television broadcast in India.

Absence, revival and replacement

Indian players celebrating their first Nehru Cup win in 2007 at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi. The tournament was revived in that year The captain of Indian Football team, Shri Bhaichung Bhutia celebrating alongwith other players after winning the final of Nehru Football Cup between India and Syria, in New Delhi on August 29, 2007.jpg
Indian players celebrating their first Nehru Cup win in 2007 at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi. The tournament was revived in that year

The tournament was shelved after 1997 due to lack of sponsorship and other reasons. It was revived in 2007 mainly due to persuasion by the former coach of India national football teamBob Houghton. The original rolling trophy could not be recovered from Iraq, and a new trophy was designed.

The tournament held during 2007 was called the ONGC Nehru Cup, to acknowledge sponsorship from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation. The 2007 Nehru Cup took place from 17 to 29 August 2007 with Syria, Kyrgyzstan, India, Cambodia and Bangladesh as participating nations where India won their first title after hosting it for the last couple of decades defeating the much higher ranked Syria in the final by a 1-0 margin, on a goal scored by N. P. Pradeep in the 44th minute on a back pass from Bhaichung Bhutia. [14]

The Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit presenting the ONGC Nehru Cup to the India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, August 29, 2007. The Chief Minister of Delhi Smt. Sheila Dixit presenting the ONGC Nehru Cup to the Indian Captain Shri Bhaichung Bhutia, in New Delhi on August 29, 2007.jpg
The Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit presenting the ONGC Nehru Cup to the India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, August 29, 2007.

The 2009 Nehru Cup took place in New Delhi from 19 to 31 August 2009. After the participation of Palestine was cancelled by the AIFF, the tournament was changed into a round-robin format with five teams playing each other and the top two clashing in the final. [15] India defeated Syria by 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the final on 31 August 2009.

The 2012 Nehru Cup was the 15th edition of the Nehru Cup and 3rd Nehru Cup since it was revived in 2007. It was held from 22 August to 2 September. [16] The tournament was hosted in New Delhi, India. A total of 5 teams participated in the tournament through being invited by the All India Football Federation. The final match happened between India and Cameroon and India won the match in penalty shoot out 5-4 after the match ended 2-2 after 120 minutes of play. [17] [18]

Hopes to have another tournament in 2014 were shelved in August 2014 due to the AIFF not being able to pursue capital investment. [19] AIFF revealed on 17 May 2016 that it plans to replace Nehru Cup with a new Intercontinental Cup. [20]

Results

YearHost cityFinalThird place matchNum.
teams
WinnerScoreRunner-up3rd PlaceScore4th Place
1982 Kolkata Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay
2–0
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg  South Korea [note 1] Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Olympic
6
1983 [21] Kochi Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary [note 2]
2–1
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China PR U-19 Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania U-21
7
1984 Kolkata Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
1–0
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Flag of Hungary.svg Vasas SC
6
1985 [22] Kochi Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
2–1
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg  South Korea U-20
8
1986 [23] Thiruvananthapuram Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union B
1–0
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
Flag of Peru (state).svg  Peru
6
1987 [24] Kozhikode Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union [note 2]
2–0
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria [note 2] Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
8
1988 [25] Siliguri Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union [note 2]
2–0
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland [note 2] Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg  Bulgaria [note 2]
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary [note 2]
8
1989 [26] Margao Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary [note 2]
2–0
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union U-21 Flag of North Korea (1948-1992).svg  North Korea
Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg  Iraq U-20
6
1991 [27] Thiruvananthapuram Flag of Romania.svg  Romania B
3–1
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
6
1993 Chennai Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea
2–0
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania B Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland
7
1995 Kolkata Flag of Iraq (1991-2004).svg  Iraq
1–0
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia U-20 Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
Flag of India.svg  India
5
1997 Kochi Flag of Iraq (1991-2004).svg  Iraq
3–1
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan U-19 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
2–1
Flag of India.svg  India
5
2007 New Delhi Flag of India.svg  India
1–0
Flag of Syria.svg  Syria Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan
Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh
5
2009 New Delhi Flag of India.svg  India
1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p)
Flag of Syria.svg  Syria Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
5
2012 New Delhi Flag of India.svg  India
2–2 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p)
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives
Flag of Syria.svg  Syria
5
Notes
  1. Round-robin format, no third match held.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Olympic team

Medal summary

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 4217
2Flag of India.svg  India 3003
3Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2103
4Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 2002
5Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 1102
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 1102
7Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea 1012
8Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 1001
9Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 0415
10Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 0202
11Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 0123
12Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 0112
13Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan 0101
Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg  Yugoslavia 0101
15Flag of Kyrgyzstan (2023).svg  Kyrgyzstan 0022
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 0022
17Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 0011
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 0011
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 0011
Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 0011
Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 0011
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 0011
Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 0011
Totals (23 entries)15151747

See also

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Further reading