Jammu, Jan 19 (UNI) Ladakh's sports persons are in upbeat mood as the Union Territory has got its first well furnished synthetic track and open Astro turf for football stadium under Khelo India Programme—an initiative of Government of India to revive sports culture in India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in the country and establish India as a strong sporting nation.
The standard size track and football turf has been constructed on 130 kanals in the Spituk belt of the ‘Cold Desert’ and the venue is ready to cater football lovers and the spectators.
The stadium is believed to be the country’s highest sports stadium located at an altitude of about 11,500 feet above sea level.
“The football turf is ready and will soon host training sessions and matches to boost sports culture in the Union Territory of Ladakh,” Ravinder Kumar, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Affairs and Sports, UT of Ladakh, told UNI.
“Officially, the stadium is not yet open but the venue will soon be emerging as one of the most attractive football training centers and sporting event venues in the country,” said Kumar.
He said that it is a multipurpose training centre and also has a thousand-bed youth hostel facility.
“The government has taken this initiative to develop various sports facilities for the people and the stadium has been built under the Khelo India Program,” said the Commissioner Secretary.
Sharing details further, Kumar said that the stadium has a spectator gallery with seating capacity of about 30,000 spectators and the astro-turf is the first of its kind in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
“Despite the Covid pandemic challenges, the project was completed in the stipulated time,” he revealed and said that the stadium is not less than a dream for the people of Ladakh and children who aspire to become professional footballers.
The stadium was constructed under the Khelo India programme for which the then Union Minister of State for Sports Kiren Rijiju had laid the foundation in September 2020 besides of Gymnasium Hall, Astroturf and Athletics Track for Football Stadium worth Rs 10.50 crores.
Taking to microblogging site Rijiju, who currently holds the portfolio of Minister of Law and Justice of India, wrote, “Very satisfying to see the completion of Sports projects in Ladakh in less than 2 years despite the pandemic! Prime Minister @narendramodi Ji gave a clear direction to execute all the projects on time. These are funded under the Khelo India scheme.”
Meanwhile Union Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur tweeted, “This is NEW INDIA. Funded as part of Khelo India sports infrastructure, Open Stadium at Spituk, Leh, height 11,500 feet approx.”
The ministers however, have also shared the pictures of the Football Stadium on their Twitter Accounts.
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