Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has expressed his gratitude to the Indian Air Force and the Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society after being invited as the Guest of Honour for the Grand Finale of the Junior Boys (U-17) category and the closing ceremony of the 65th Subroto Cup International Football Tournament 2026.
The grand finale and closing ceremony are scheduled to be held on September 24, 2026, at Dr. Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi.
Sharing the news, Raina said he felt honoured to be associated with the prestigious tournament, which provides a platform for young footballers to showcase their talent while promoting sportsmanship and grassroots sports.
Raina said he was particularly excited about being among Indian Air Force personnel and meeting the young athletes participating in the tournament. He added that he was looking forward to encouraging the emerging footballers and being part of the celebration of young sporting talent.
Ahead of the event, Raina also met Wing Commander S.S. Dhankar, Honorary Secretary General of the Subroto Mukerjee Sports Education Society, and his team. According to Raina, the meeting included an interactive discussion on sports.
He extended his best wishes to all the players participating in the tournament as well as the organising committee responsible for conducting the 2026 edition.
The Subroto Cup is one of India’s prominent school-level football tournaments and has over the years provided young players with an opportunity to compete at a high level and gain exposure at an early stage of their sporting careers.
Raina’s presence at the Junior Boys U-17 finale is expected to provide additional motivation to the young footballers as the 65th edition of the tournament concludes in New Delhi on September 24.
