The designer of Football Gold Cup Col R.C. Patial, disheartened by no participation by Army

Dharamshala, May 8, 2018: All India Shaheed Major Durga Mall Capt Dal Bahadur Thapa Memorial Football Gold Cup is organised in Dharamshala every year in April/May. It is now a 30 year old tournament. Shaheed Maj Durga Mal and Capt Dal Bahadur, who belong to Dharamshala, had fought up to the last breath for the freedom of country while fighting under the banner of Azad Hind Fouj. This All India Football Tournament is organised to commemorate the memories of these two great martyrs who laid their lives for the freedom of our nation so that we could live with dignity and respect. Maj Durga Mall was executed on 25.08.1944 at Red Fort New Delhi and Capt Dal Bahadur Thapa was later executed on 03.05.1945 at Red Fort New Delhi by the British. This football tournament was started in 1989.
The trophy for this Championship has been presented by 3/11 Gorkha Regiment during its centenary celebration to the organisation. It was designed by Ex-Commanding Officer 3/11 GR, Col RC Patial, SM , who was also a former Principal, Meritorious School, Amritsar.
Ravinder Singh Rana, Coordinator, Organising Committee All India Shaheed Maj Durga Mall Capt Dal Bahadur Thapa Memorial Gold Cup Football Championship received this Trophy from Col RC Patial, SM Ex-CO of 3/11 GR years back.
When DO Like Sports Club Jalandhar won the competition this year by defeating last year champion Khalsa Club Amritsar and received this trophy from Kishan Kapoor Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, HP, Minister asked Col RC Patial also to join in presenting the Memorial Football Gold Cup to the winning team, on 3rd May 2018 at Police Stadium Dharamshala.
Col RC Patial said, “It was disheartening not to see any Army local teams, Air Force teams or BSF teams participating in the Championship. It was also disheartening to see ‘Army’s’ failure to support and encourage the only such sports competition held in the memory of its own martyrs and sons of the soil.” Col RC Patial hoped to see participation of the Army and more Himachal local teams in 2019 towards leading to a better competition.