Ranchi: Excitement for the 135th edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament, the Durand Cup, gathered pace in Ranchi on Wednesday as free ticket distribution began at dedicated counters at Birsa Munda Football Stadium. Long queues of football enthusiasts, students and families collected passes for the tournament, which the city will host for the first time.The counters will remain open till Saturday. Spectators must present a valid govt photo ID to collect tickets, with a maximum of four tickets issued per person. Officials said around 12,000 tickets were booked on the first day, reflecting strong public interest.Ranchi will host six league matches between July 26 and August 13, followed by a quarter-final on August 16. Jamshedpur FC, Indian Air Force FT, Defenders FC and SC Delhi are scheduled to play at the venue.Sports director Chhavi Ranjan said the response had been encouraging. “Hosting the Durand Cup in Ranchi for the first time is a significant milestone for Jharkhand. We have witnessed an overwhelming response from football lovers, with nearly 12,000 tickets booked on the very first day. The stadium has a seating capacity of 28,000, of which around 3,500 seats have been earmarked for VIPs, students and other guests. We appeal to spectators to collect their tickets in advance and enjoy the matches in large numbers,” he said.Saraswati Tirkey, who was waiting in line, said she arrived early so that her family could watch the matches. “We have only seen the Durand Cup on television. Watching it live in Ranchi will be a proud moment for us,” she said.College student Neetu Tirkey said the tournament had generated excitement among youngsters. “Many of us have been discussing the fixtures for weeks. It is wonderful that such a prestigious football tournament is finally coming to our city,” she said.