Birat Gold Cup (Nepali: विराट गोल्डकप, previously called the Mahendra Gold Cup) is an annual football tournament held in Biratnagar, the second largest metropolitan city of Nepal.[1][2] It has been held at the Sahid Rangsala stadium since 2012. The event witnesses participation from several national and international teams, and is among the most prestigious football tournaments of the nation.

Birat Gold Cup
Founded2012
RegionNepal
Number of teamsVarious
Current championsBiratnagar City (1st title)
Most successful club(s)Himalayan Sherpa Club
Jhapa XI
Nepal Police Club
Sankata Club
(1 title each)
Television broadcastersGoalNepal

The tournament for the year 2077 B.S. (2021 A.D.) saw a total of 10 participating teams from only 2 nations (Nepal and India). In the 2023 edition, Nepal Super League team Biratnagar City won the title, defeating the visiting Indian Kerala Premier League Luca Soccer Club 4–0.[3]

2023 Birat Gold Cup

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The 2023 Birat Gold Cup 8 participating teams were:

APF Club

Nepal Army

Nepal Police

Biratnagar City F.C.

Druk Lhyaul

Jawlakhel Youth Club

Luca Soccer Club

Sankata Football Club

[4]

History

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Birat Gold Cup football tournament began in the initial years as Mahendra Gold Cup and was named after late King Mahendra .[5] Mahendra Gold Cup 2004 was held in Biratnagar.[6] In 2012, Mahendra Gold Cup was renamed to Birat Gold Cup.[5]

2015 Birat Gold Cup

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2015 Birat Gold Cup was planned with an estimated budget NRs 7.7 million.[7] Tribhuwan Army Club and Jhapa XI reached the final of the tournament.[8] Jhapa XI defeated Tribhuwan Army Club 2–1 to clinch the title.[9]

2016 Birat Gold Cup

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2016 Birat Gold Cup was hosted on Sahid Rangsala, Biratnagar by Morang Football Club.[10] In the final match, Nepal Police Club clinched title victory by defeating Jhapa XI 1-0 when Bharat Shah scored the only goal of the match.[11] Shah found the post wide open when Jhapa XI goalkeeper Binay Shrestha went on to clear the ball in the 87th minute.[12] Suman Subedi of Nepal Police Club was adjudged Player of the Tournament.[11]

2018 Birat Gold Cup

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The 2018 Birat Gold Cup was scheduled for March 31 - April 9.[13] The 10 participating teams were:[14]

  1. Thimpu FC,   Bhutan
  2. Nepal Army Club, Kathmandu
  3. Mohammedan Sporting Club,   India
  4. Sashatra Prahari Bal Team, Kathmandu
  5. Bangladesh Sporting Club,   Bangladesh
  6. Manang Marsyangdi Club, Kathmandu
  7. Nepal Police Club, Kathmandu
  8. Rumpum Jhapa 11, Jhapa
  9. Three Star Club, Kathmandu
  10. Rijalco Morang 11, Morang

2021 Birat Gold Cup

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The 2021 Birat Gold Cup 10 participating teams were:[4]

  1. African Roots Association, Kathmandu
  2. Nepal A.P.F. Club, Kathmandu
  3. Biratnagar Metropolitan, Biratnagar
  4. Gorkha Boys Club, Rupandehi
  5. Machhindra Club, Kathmandu
  6. Nepal Police Club, Kathmandu
  7. Punjab Police FC,[15]   India
  8. Sankata Club, Kathmandu
  9. Siliguri United Football Club,   India
  10. United Sikkim Football Club,   India


2022 Birat Gold cup

2022 Birat gold cup had 8 participants

Results

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Title Year (B.S.) Year (A.D.) Champions Runners-up Final score
I 2069 2012 Himalayan Sherpa Club African United Club 1–0
II 2070 2013 Sankata Boys Sports Club APF Club 1–0
III[16] 2071 2015 Jhapa XI Nepal Army Club 2–1
IV[17] 2072 2016 Nepal Police Club Jhapa XI 1–0
V 2074 2018 Three Star Club [18] Nepal Army Club 3–0
VI 2077 2021 Armed Police Force Club   Punjab Police FC 1–0
VII 2079 2022 Biratnagar City FC   Luca Soccer Club 4–0
VIII 2080 2024 Machhindra F.C. Shangri-La Football Club 2–0

Performance

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Club Champions Runners-up
Jhapa XI 1 1
Biratnagar City FC 1 0
Himalayan Sherpa Club 1 0
Nepal Police Club 1 0
Sankata BSC 1 0
APF Club 1 1
Three Star Club 1 0
African United Club 0 1
Nepal Army Club 0 1
FC Punjab Police 0 1

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Population of Cities in Nepal (2018)". worldpopulationreview.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Biggest Cities Nepal". www.geonames.org. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  3. ^ "६ दशकपछि विराटनगरलाई घरेलु मैदानमा उपाधि" [After 6 decades, Biratnagar won the title at home]. hamrokhelkud.com (in Nepali). Biratnagar: Hamro Khelkud. 30 March 2023. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Birat Gold Cup Football Tournament (2021)". nepal90.com. Kathmandu: Nepal90. 17 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Birat Gold Cup Football to begin on March 24, 2012 - Nepalopedia:: A Virtual tour of Nepal". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  6. ^ Singh, Rishi (January 2004). "Mahendra Gold Cup from today". The Himalayan Times. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Something for everyone in Birat Gold Cup". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Jhapa XI celebrates victory after winning Birat Gold Cup". Go Online News. 13 February 2015. Archived from the original on 16 August 2015.
  10. ^ "Hosts Morang thru". 20 February 2016. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Outsiders NPC claim title". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  12. ^ "NPC lift title". 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  13. ^ बस्नेत, चुमन. "सर्वाधिक राशिको विराट गोल्डकप". Nagarik News. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Birat Gold Cup 2074". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  15. ^ Kafle, Santosh (12 April 2021). "Punjab beat Machhindra, enter semis". thehimalayantimes.com. Biratnagar: The Himalayan Times. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  16. ^ Tournament details Archived 2017-11-18 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Tournament details Archived 2016-04-27 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Birat Gold Cup 2074 - ARMY VS THREE STAR LIVE". YouTube. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
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