East Bengal End 22-Year Wait As Rajnath Singh Presents Durand Cup 2026 Trophy After Historic Derby Win Against Mohun Bagan Super Giant

Kolkata, August 23: In a historic achievement, East Bengal ended a 22-year wait for the Durand Cup with a stunning 4-1 win over arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Sunday.

Edmund Lalrindika was the star of the historic Kolkata Derby as he scored a hat-trick and received a thunderous roar from the crowd present at the stadium.

Bipin Singh also found the net as East Bengal scored all four of their goals in the first half. Manvir Singh scored Mohun Bagan's only goal.

The victory gave East Bengal their 17th Durand Cup title, taking them level with Mohun Bagan for the most titles in the tournament. The club had last lifted the trophy in 2004.

Rajnath Singh Witnesses Historic Final

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was present at the stadium and witnessed the high-voltage Kolkata Derby. He later presented the Durand Cup 2026 trophy to the victorious East Bengal team.

Rajnath Singh also shared pictures from the final on social media and congratulated East Bengal on their victory. He praised the team's determination and teamwork and highlighted Lalrindika's hat-trick in his post.

He said, "Witnessed the Durand Cup final match in Kolkata today. I congratulate the East Bengal club on winning the Cup. Their relentless determination and impeccable teamwork have brought victory and glory to them. Edmund Lalrindika’s hat-trick and the team’s clinical display ended a 22-year wait in style. True spirit of Indian football on display during the finals. Well done, Red & Gold Brigade!"

Lalrindika's Hat-Trick Scripts History

Lalrindika produced a memorable performance in the final. He scored twice before Manvir Singh pulled one back for Mohun Bagan.

However, Lalrindika completed his hat-trick before half-time to put East Bengal 4-1 ahead. His three-goal performance made him the first player to score a hat-trick in a Durand Cup Kolkata Derby.

East Bengal defended their big lead in the second half and completed a memorable victory over their biggest rivals.

East Bengal Finally Lift Trophy Again

The win was especially significant for East Bengal as they had been waiting since 2004 to win the Durand Cup again. Their latest triumph also came against Mohun Bagan, making the victory even more special for the Red and Gold Brigade.

The final was the 13th Durand Cup final meeting between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. This has added another chapter to one of Indian football's biggest rivalries.