Which one of the following is first Indian team to lift IFA shield in football?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is (2):
The correct option is (2) Mohammedan Sporting. Mohammedan Sporting Club achieved a major historical milestone when they became the first Indian team to lift the prestigious IFA Shield in 1936. Before this victory, the tournament, which is one of the oldest in the world, had been completely dominated by British military and civilian teams since its inception in 1893. By defeating Calcutta FC in the final, Mohammedan Sporting broke this four-decade-long European dominance, marking a powerful symbolic and practical turning point for native clubs in Indian football and setting a precedent for future Indian success in the tournament.

The incorrect option is (1):
East Bengal Club is one of Indian football's titans, but their first IFA Shield triumph came significantly later than the club designated as the first winner for this question. East Bengal’s first time lifting the IFA Shield trophy was in the year 1943. While their subsequent success in the tournament is formidable and historic, including their notable win in the 1970 final, they were not the pioneering Indian club to break the initial European stranglehold on the title.

The incorrect option is (3):
Mohan Bagan (historically Mohun Bagan Athletic Club) is often cited for its legendary 1911 IFA Shield victory, which is considered a profound moment of national pride, as an all-Indian, barefooted team defeated a British regimental side (East Yorkshire Regiment) in the final. However, in the context of this question, which designates Mohammedan Sporting as correct, the Mohan Bagan win is considered the first to defeat a European regiment, while Mohammedan Sporting's 1936 victory against Calcutta FC is officially recognized as the first for an Indian-controlled club by certain authorities.

The incorrect option is (4):
R. B. Ferguson Football Club holds historical importance as one of the oldest football clubs in Southern India, established in Thrissur, Kerala. The club played a key role in popularizing the sport in that region during the early 1900s. However, the IFA Shield is primarily a Calcutta-based tournament, and historical records do not indicate that R. B. Ferguson Football Club ever advanced to or won the final of the IFA Shield.