Ladakh set to script new chapter in football with creation of country’s highest Astro Turf stadium

Jammu, Apr 19 (FN Representative) Once battling for their identity, the Union Territory of Ladakh is all set to script a new chapter in the sport of football with the completion of the country’s highest Astro Turf Stadium.The Union Territory of Ladakh has got its first well furnished open astro football turf stadium along with synthetic track under Khelo India Programme—an initiative of Government of India to revive the sports culture at the grass-root level by building strong framework for all sports and establish India as a great sporting nation.The international standard football turf stadium is believed to be the country’s highest sports stadium located at an altitude of about 11,500 feet above sea level and has been constructed on 130 kanals in the Spituk belt of the ‘Cold Desert’ and is ready to cater the soccer lovers and the spectators as well.Athletes in Ladakh believe that after the creation of the Union Territory, the sports sector witnessed a revolution and they got an individual growth and identity to represent the region, which previously was almost not possible under the banner of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Union Territory of Ladakh, Ravinder Kumar sharing details told UNI, “two astro turf stadiums of international standards—one at Ladakh at an altitude of 11,500 feet and second at Kargil, at an altitude of 9000 feet—are ready to cater athletes.”“Earlier we didn’t have an astro turf stadium but the government took this initiative to develop various sports facilities for the people and the stadium has been built under the Khelo India Program in Leh and under Special Development Package in Kargil,” said the Commissioner Secretary.The sport of football is being promoted at both district headquarters, he said, adding that for the first time, the recognised Ladakh Football Association (LFA) has been affiliated with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). “After the creation of UT, the footballers have started participating in national and other prestigious competitions including the Santosh Trophy,” said the Commissioner Secretary adding that the Physical Education Teachers (PETs) are being skilled by the FIFA members to further improve, strengthen and train young footballers across the UT with basics and technicalities.

“Ladakh now has also announced its first professional football club named ‘One Ladakh FC’, which is also promoting ‘Clean and Green Ladakh’ through various events,” he revealed.Kumar stated that environmental aspects have also been taken into consideration in and around the stadium site and items like plastic, polythene vis-a-vis junk food are banned inside the venue.“Athletes in Ladakh are examples of fitness and stamina and our football teams, including the women club, are outstandingly performing. We are planning Zonal Level competitions in Leh in collaboration with AIFF,” he said.The Secretary said that presently, emphasis is being laid on infrastructure and facilities for the grooming of sport sector.Tsewang Dorje, Vice President, Ladakh Football Association told UNI, “after UT creation, LFA was formed that was affiliated with AIFF and with the support of the government, international standard infrastructure has been created.”“To be very honest, the J&K Football Association (JKFA) earlier never gave our players an opportunity to play. We were never informed and called for trials, which was unfortunate and our players remained on the backburner,” alleged the LFA vice president, who himself represented national competitions representing Chandigarh.

He slammed the JKFA for being “discriminatory” that forced him to represent Chandigarh instead of playing for Jammu and Kashmir and said, “Ladakh has no dearth of talent and we have proved our mettle after exclusive identity post creation of the Union Territory.”One of the founder members of ‘One Ladakh FC’ in Ladakh, Tsering Angmo told UNI, “it was 15 days back we announced the ‘One Ladakh FC’ and team will also be launched very soon comprising footballers from Ladakh UT for professional participation in various national and prestigious competitions in future.”“Since the day we announced the Pro Club, we got so many queries from different clubs to play exhibition matches and we are looking forward to playing at a high altitude of 11,500 feet as soon as our professional team is launched,” said the LFA General Secretary.She also revealed that a professional coach from London is also expected to join them for training the footballers.Notably, Minister of Law and Justice of India, Kiren Rijiju last year also tweeted, “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.”The Union Sports Minister, Anurag Thakur had tweeted, “This is NEW INDIA. Funded as part of Khelo India sports infrastructure, Open Stadium at Spituk, Leh, height 11,500 feet approx.”