Nehru Cup
The new Nehru Cup trophy being unveiled by then Minister for Civil Aviation, Praful Patel, in New Delhi, August 6, 2009.
Organising bodyAIFF
Founded1982 (1982)
Abolished2012 (2012)
RegionIndia
Number of teams5 (2012)
Related competitionsTri-Nation Series
Intercontinental Cup
Last champions India
(3rd title)
Most successful team(s) 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.

History

Overview (1982–2012)

The iconic Eden Gardens stadium, hosted all matches of the inaugural edition of Nehru Cup.[1]

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

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]

  • Official awards:[10]

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 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 team – Bob 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 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

Year Host city Final Third place match Num.
teams
Winner Score Runner-up 3rd Place Score 4th Place
1982Kolkata Uruguay
2–0
 China South Korea– [note 1] Italy Olympic
6
1983[21]Kochi Hungary [note 2]
2–1
 China PR U-19 Cameroon
–
 Romania U-21
7
1984Kolkata Poland
1–0
 China Argentina
–
Hungary Vasas SC
6
1985[22]Kochi Soviet Union
2–1
 Yugoslavia Morocco
–
 South Korea U-20
8
1986[23]Thiruvananthapuram Soviet Union B
1–0
 China East Germany
–
 Peru
6
1987[24]Kozhikode Soviet Union [note 2]
2–0
 Bulgaria [note 2] Denmark
–
 East Germany
8
1988[25]Siliguri Soviet Union [note 2]
2–0
 Poland [note 2] Bulgaria [note 2]
–
 Hungary [note 2]
8
1989[26]Margao Hungary [note 2]
2–0
 Soviet Union U-21 North Korea
–
 Iraq U-20
6
1991[27]Thiruvananthapuram  Romania B
3–1
 Hungary Soviet Union
–
 China
6
1993Chennai North Korea
2–0
 Romania B Cameroon
–
 Finland
7
1995Kolkata Iraq
1–0
 Russia U-20 Thailand
–
 India
5
1997Kochi Iraq
3–1
 Uzbekistan U-19 China
2–1
 India
5
2007New Delhi India
1–0
 Syria Kyrgyzstan
–
 Bangladesh
5
2009New Delhi India
1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p)
 Syria Kyrgyzstan
–
 Lebanon
5
2012New Delhi India
2–2 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p)
 Cameroon Maldives
–
 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
1 Russia4217
2 India3003
3 Hungary2103
4 Iraq2002
5 Poland1102
 Romania1102
7 North Korea1012
8 Uruguay1001
9 China0415
10 Syria0202
11 Cameroon0123
12 Bulgaria0112
13 Uzbekistan0101
 Yugoslavia0101
15 Kyrgyzstan0022
 South Korea0022
17 Argentina0011
 Denmark0011
 East Germany0011
 Finland0011
 Maldives0011
 Morocco0011
 Thailand0011
Totals (23 entries)15151747

See also

References

  1. ↑ Roy, Abhishek (14 August 2007). "Revisiting some of the memorable moments of the Nehru Cup". TwoCircles.net. IANS. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "Chronology of Important Sports Events — West Bengal". wbsportsandyouth.gov.in. Kolkata: Government of West Bengal – Department of youth services and sports. 2017. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Nehru Cup Victory : Moment To Cherish For Indian Football Fans". syndication.bleacherreport.com. Bharanithar. 10 September 2009. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Triumphs and Disasters: The Story of Indian Football, 1889--2000" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "ONGC Nehru Cup - goalzz.com". Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
  6. ↑ "Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi". Archived from the original on 24 August 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "ONGC NEHRU CUP 2007 : Indian Football Capital's News". Archived from the original on 6 November 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  8. ↑ Bobrowsky, Josef; King, Ian (1 January 2006). "Nehru Cup 1993". The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  9. ↑ Mukhopadhyay, Pulakesh (16 February 2014). "Day after: memories and hopes". thestatesman.com. The Statesman. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cruickshank, Mark; Morrison, Neil. "Jawaharlal Nehru Centenary Cup (Calcutta) 1990". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ "East Bengal - Performance in International Tournaments". eastbengalclub.co.in. East Bengal Club. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  12. ↑ Nehru Centenary Club Cup trophy at the trophy cabinet of Olimpia. twitter.com (indianfootballh). Retrieved 29 March 2022. Archived on 30 March 2022.
  13. ↑ "Former Kolkata Maidan star and 1994 World Cupper Emeka Ezeugo to run for Rohingyas". The Hindustan Times. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  14. ↑ "ONGC NEHRU CUP 2007 : Indian Football Capital's News". www.kolkatafootballs.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "Palestine not part of Nehru Cup". The Indian Express. 11 August 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  16. ↑ "Wim Koevermans named as new Senior Team Coach". The All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  17. ↑ "India beat Cameroon to win third successive Nehru Cup title". The Times Of India. 2 September 2012. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  18. ↑ FIFA.com
  19. ↑ "India could host inaugural BRICS tourney". Goal. 19 August 2014. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  20. ↑ "The Blue Tigers will be in action next August as the Indian FA plan to replace the Nehru Cup with the Champions Cup". goal.com. 17 May 2016. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  21. ↑ "Nehru Cup 1983". Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  22. ↑ "Nehru Cup 1985". Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  23. ↑ "Nehru Cup 1986". Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  24. ↑ "Nehru Cup 1987". Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  25. ↑ "Nehru Cup 1988". Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  26. ↑ "Nehru Cup 1989". Archived from the original on 8 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  27. ↑ "Nehru Cup 1991". Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.

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