Defending champions Delhi Public School, RK Puram, and Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Faridabad, started their title defenses with strong wins at the Oriental Cup 2026 at Dr. Ambedkar Stadium. In the Boys’ category, DPS RK Puram beat Vasant Valley School 5-0, while Government Girls Senior Secondary School triumphed 5-0 over Navy Children School in the Girls’ category.
Indian footballer Rohit Kumar graced the opening ceremony as the Chief Guest, interacting with young players. Also present were Fareed Bakshi, Founder of Oriental Cup 2026, and Arvinder Singh, COO of Oriental Cup 2026. The first day featured seven matches across Boys’ and Girls’ categories, including an exhibition match between NGOs STRIVE and Mera India Mera Adhikaar (MIMA).
Rohit Kumar praised the tournament for providing a platform for young talents to showcase their skills and passion for football. He emphasized the importance of dedication, love for the sport, and opportunities like the Oriental Cup in shaping future footballers. The defending Boys’ champions, DPS RK Puram, began their campaign with a convincing 5-0 win over Vasant Valley School.
In the Girls’ category, Vasant Valley School defeated DPS RK Puram 3-0, while defending champions Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Faridabad, secured a 5-0 victory over Navy Children School. Navy Children School won 3-1 against Venkateshwar International School in a Boys’ match, and Sanskriti School edged Modern School 1-0 with a second-minute goal by Mannan Machhan.
Modern School dominated the Girls’ fixture against Sanskriti School, winning 4-0. The day concluded with Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, defeating Dev Samaj Modern School 3-0 in the Boys’ category. In the exhibition match between STRIVE and MIMA, STRIVE won 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
The Oriental Cup 2026, running from July 7 to July 16, will feature over 1,500 student-athletes from more than 48 teams in Delhi-NCR. The event offers an increased prize pool and a ₹2.5 lakh scholarship program for 10 deserving student-athletes. Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt. Ltd. is the title sponsor, with Nivia Sports, Ocean Beverages, and Central Park Resorts as partners.
