Agartala, 19th August 2026 : The 30th Sonali Trophy prize-money knockout football tournament got off to a colourful start on Wednesday at the Kulai Higher Secondary School ground in Dhalai district. The tournament, organised by Sonali Sangha, was formally inaugurated by Tripura Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Tinku Roy.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by District Sabhadhipati Susmita Das, District Magistrate Vivek H.B., District Superintendent of Police Rushikesh Desai, Sonali Sangha president and BAC Chairman Parimal Debbarma, Tournament Committee Secretary Sushanta Ghosh and other dignitaries.
A total of 23 football teams from different parts of Tripura are participating in this year’s competition. The opening match featured Auto Sramik Union against KGTP, with a large number of football enthusiasts gathering at the ground to witness the contest.
Auto Sramik Union produced an impressive performance to register a 3–1 victory. The winners took a 2–0 lead in the first half. KGTP fought back after the break and reduced the deficit by scoring a goal, raising hopes of a comeback. However, Auto Sramik Union struck again in the closing stages to seal the match.
The tournament carries an attractive prize purse, with the champion team set to receive Rs 1.30 lakh and the runners-up Rs 70,000.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Tinku Roy said the state government was taking several initiatives to encourage young people to participate in sports. He noted that Tripura’s sportspersons have been achieving success at the national level and said efforts were underway to strengthen sports infrastructure.
The minister also announced that a quality sports ground would be constructed in Ambassa in the near future. He emphasised that encouraging youths to spend more time on the playing field would be an important step towards building a drug-free society.
The successful opening of the Sonali Trophy has generated considerable enthusiasm among local football lovers, with expectations high for competitive matches in the remaining rounds.
