DRM Cup football tourney kicks off in Vizag

The DRM Cup All India Invitation Football Tournament, organised by the East Coast Railway Sports Association (ECoRSA), kicked off at the Waltair Football Stadium, on Sunday in Visakhapatnam. The tournament will continue till December 21, 2025.

Divisional railway manager and ECoRSA president Lalit Bohra, inaugurated the tournament. The tournament features 14 teams from various States and organisations. Matches will be held day and night under floodlights at the stadium. The inaugural match on Sunday (December 14, 2025) featured Telangana against Bandamunda, said K. Pavan Kumar, senior divisional commercial manager of Waltair Division.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Bohra announced that the Waltair Division would continue to host regular football tournaments on a grand scale. He highlighted the timely coincidence of the event with world-renowned footballer Lionel Messi’s ongoing tour of India to promote the sport, crediting ECoRSA’s proactive efforts in organising this prestigious event. He commended the E CoRSA team and other departments for their meticulous arrangements and resource coordination, building on the success of the recent Weightlifting Championship.

Sports Officer Haranath and Mr. Kotagiri Sreedhar also spoke.

Jyotsna Bohra, president, ECoR Women’s Welfare organisation; ADRM (infrastructure) E. Santharam; ADRM (operations) K. Rama Rao; sports officer and senior divisional finance manager M. Haranath, president of Andhra Pradesh Football Association Kotagiri Sreedhar, general secretary N. Usha and ECoRSA members attended the event.