Captain Jintu Gogoi memorial football tournament got underway at the Victory Polo ground in Dibrugarh on Tuesday. The 14th edition of the tournament, organised by the 9th Rajputana Rifles, was inaugurated by honorary flying officer TR Gogoi, father of late Captain Jintu Gogoi. Former Asom Sahitya Sabha chief Nagen Saikia also attended the inaugural programme as the chief guest.
Altogether 16 teams of the state are participating in the tournament. In the opening match, local team Jokai Rupjyoti Sangha defeated Garhwal rifles by 2-0. Both the goals were scored by Indrajit Sonowal. The finals will be held on January 12.
Since 2004, the army has been hosting this tournament in memory of Kargil war hero Jintu Gogoi. The 28-year old young army captain of 17 Garhwal Rifles sacrificed his life while fighting Pakistani intruders in Juber Hills in the Batalik sub-sector on June 30, 1999. Gogoi was posthumously awarded with the Vir Chakra for displaying great valour and courage while leading his troop and fighting the enemy in the extremely adverse weather condition and inhospitable mountainous terrain. The young captain singlehandedly killed two enemy soldiers before making the supreme sacrifice for the nation. The Kargil war claimed the lives of 527 Indian soldiers.
Capt Gogoi, was recalled from leave to join his unit barely 12 days after his engagement. Of the four companies that went into battle one officer and eleven jawans did not return.
Gogoi, a resident of Khumati in Golaghat district of Assam was posthumously conferred the Bir Chilarai Award by the state government in 2007. Born on November 21, 1970 Gogoi joined the Officers Training Academy, Chennai on May 9, 1984 and was commissioned into the 17 Garhwal Rifles on March 11, 1995.