Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 24: Andaman FC defeated Army A 4-3 on penalties to win the ANC Silver Jubilee Football Championship 2026 after the final ended 1-1 following regular and extra time at Brichgunj Military Station on September 22.
The final was played at the Island Terrier Football Ground of 154 Inf Bn (TA) BIHAR, where the two teams remained level through extra time before Andaman FC prevailed in the shoot-out. Army A finished runners-up.
The week-long tournament, held from September 15 to 22, featured 10 teams, including five Defence teams and five civil teams. The championship was organised to mark the 25th anniversary of the Andaman and Nicobar Command.
The tournament brought Defence personnel and civil teams together in a series of football matches aimed at promoting competition and sporting excellence. Players displayed teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship throughout the championship.
Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty, CINCAN, attended the final as chief guest, while Murlikant Rajaram Petkar was the guest of honour. The guests presented the championship trophy, medals and awards to the winners, runners-up and outstanding individual performers.
Petkar, India’s first Paralympic gold medallist, also interacted with the participating players during the event. He has been honoured with the Padma Shri and the Arjun Award for Lifetime Achievement.
The championship formed part of a series of events marking the Silver Jubilee of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Its participation of Defence and civil teams provided a common sporting platform for the two communities in the islands.
The tournament concluded with Andaman FC taking the title after the penalty shoot-out, while the event also marked the completion of the week-long football competition organised as part of the Command’s 25-year commemorations.
