The Durand Cup, one of the oldest football tournaments in the world, is associated with which of the following sports?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of major sports trophies and tournaments. The Durand Cup is one of the oldest football tournaments in the world and the oldest in Asia. Recognising which sport it is associated with is a classic general knowledge item that appears frequently in competitive exams under sports and trophies.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The trophy or tournament mentioned is the Durand Cup.
- The question asks which sport the Durand Cup is associated with.
- Four sports are listed: badminton, volleyball, football and hockey.
- We assume that only one of these correctly matches the well established association of the Durand Cup.

Concept / Approach:
The Durand Cup is historically linked to association football. It was started in the nineteenth century and has been contested by club and regimental teams. The approach is simple factual recall: connect the Durand Cup with football rather than with other popular sports like hockey or badminton, which have their own separate cups and tournaments.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall from sports general knowledge that the Durand Cup is one of the oldest football tournaments. Step 2: Recognise that it has traditionally involved football clubs and regimental teams competing in India. Step 3: Compare the given options and identify football as option C. Step 4: Confirm that badminton has trophies like the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup, and hockey has tournaments such as the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, not the Durand Cup. Step 5: Choose football as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard sports GK books and reliable online references list the Durand Cup under football tournaments. They often highlight its long history and status as an important cup competition in Indian and Asian football. These sources do not associate the Durand Cup with badminton, volleyball or hockey, which confirms that football is the correct sport.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Badminton is associated with trophies like Thomas Cup, Uber Cup and All England Championship, not the Durand Cup.
Volleyball has its own tournaments and championships, but the Durand Cup is not one of them.
Hockey is linked with tournaments such as Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and Champions Trophy, again not the Durand Cup.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes mix up trophies because many of them use similar sounding names or come from the same historical period. Another pitfall is guessing hockey, since India has a strong hockey tradition. Keeping a short list pairing well known trophies with their correct sports is an effective way to avoid confusion in such questions.

Final Answer:
The Durand Cup is associated with the sport of Football.