The Hindu : Sport / Football : Jammu & Kashmir to host Santosh Trophy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 07, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Football

Jammu & Kashmir to host Santosh Trophy

Srinagar: For the first time since eruption of militancy in 1990, Jammu and Kashmir will host a national level sports meet, the Santosh Trophy football championship, in June-July this year.

``Arrangements for hosting the championship at Polo Ground here are in full swing,'' Minister of State for Sports and Youth Services Babu Singh told PTI after taking stock of arrangements.

The minister said around 30 teams will participate in the national level tournament. He said Rs 1.10 crore would be spent on the tournament.

The event was supposed to be hosted last year but postponed due to security reasons.

The state has only hosted one edition of Santosh Trophy in 1979. The Polo ground earlier used to host football and hockey tournaments on two different fields, but the football pitch has suffered damages as it was being used for cricket.

Since last year, the state government has banned the use of football pitch for any other purpose and the ground seems to have regained some of its lost glory.

The minister inspected the under renovation green rooms and media centre and directed the authorities to prepare the ground for the championship within the stipulated time.

He also appreciated the sportsperson of the state for securing 16 gold medals in national level events. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport