Come March, Bakhshi Stadium to get int’l tag

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 18

Sarmad Hafeez, secretary, Youth Service and Sports (YSS), on Thursday said the Bakhshi Stadium approved by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) would be ready by March 2019 for holding international events.

He was speaking during the inaugural match of the Kashmir Invitation Cup Football Tourney, which began at the TRC Turf.

He said Bakhshi Stadium was being upgraded and several innovative measures were under way to bring it to the level of the international sports standards to inculcate sports enthusiasm among state youth.

Hafeez said under the Rs 44-crore renovation project, Bakhshi Stadium was being exclusively converted into a world-class football stadium. “The stadium will be ready by March,” he said.

He said eight teams were taking part in the event. The four guest teams include Minerva Punjab FC (I-League champions), Bengaluru FC (ISL team), Delhi United FC and Sudeva FC, while four local teams include Real Kashmir FC, Lone Star Kashmir FC, State Football Academy and J&K Bank FC.

Approved by FIFA 

• The Bakhshi Stadium has been approved by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for holding international events. It is being upgraded and several innovative measures are under way to bring it to the level of the international sports standards
• Under the Rs 44-crore renovation project, Bakhshi Stadium is being exclusively converted into a world-class football stadium