Kashmir is widely known for its love of sports. It has given rise to some of the talented players and continues to impress with its growing standard. While the infrastructure is at a developing stage, the valley has hosted a wide range of National and International matches in its stadiums.
Let us take a look at the Stadiums in Kashmir in detail.
Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium
Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium is located in the Sonwar area of Srinagar. It plays host to some of the Jammu and Kashmir matches of the Ranji Trophy and has a capacity of 12,000 fans approximately.
The stadium has also played host to two international cricket matches. The first match was played on 13 October 1983 between the hosts India and West Indies. The match was affected, first by the protests and then by the bad weather. India scored 176 all out and West Indies in reply were 108 for no loss in 22.4 overs when the weather started to play spoilsport.
West Indies won the match as they were ahead of the revised target.
In the second match, Australia were the visitors on 9 September 1986. India put on a score of 222 thanks to Sunil Gavaskar. In reply, Allan Border scored 90 not out to give the Aussies victory by three wickets.
The stadium was occupied by the Indian Security forces in the late 1990s and early 2000s due to unrest in the valley. The stadium underwent renovation in 2007 resulting in the resumption of first-class cricket at the venue. On 29 August 2021, it hosted the. final of the Kashmir Premier League between Badgam Braves and Shahi Shopian.
Bakshi Stadium
Located in the Wazir Bagh area of Srinagar city, Bakshi Stadium is one of the oldest football venues in Jammu and Kashmir. It has a capacity of approximately 30,000 fans and has played a host number of I-League matches of Real Kashmir FC.
Due to the unrest in Kashmir, the stadium hardly hosted football matches in the 1990s and 2000s. In 2012, it hosted the first National level football match between Mohammedan Sporting Club, Kolkata, and JK-XI after 25 years. The hosts won the match 3-1 much to the delight of home supporters.
The venue famously hosted the Santosh trophy for the first time in 30 years in 2007-2008. In the first game between the hosts J&K and Puducherry. The hosts won the match 2-0 in front of a sold-out crowd of 30,000 spectators. Punjab eventually won the tournament defeating Services by 1-0 in the final.
The Government of India has issued a 44cr. budget to the stadium which would turn it into one of the best footballing venues in the country.
TRC Turf Ground
TRC Turf Ground is located in the Dal Gate area of Srinagar city. It plays host to the I-League games of Real Kashmir Football Club and the I-League 2 games of Lonestar Football Club. It is one of the newly opened stadiums in the valley which was inaugurated by Omar Abdullah in 2014. It was built at a cost of Rs. 4.5 Crores.
It is one of the few stadiums in the valley with floodlighting system to allow night matches. It has a capacity of 10,000 spectators approximately and uses astroturf making it Kashmir’s first synthetic turf football stadium.
Indore Stadium Srinagar
Sher-E-Kashmir Indoor Sports Complex, also known as Indore stadium is situated in the Wazir Bagh area of Srinagar city. It is a hub of sports, fitness, and health and its easy accessibility has made it a number-one choice for sports lovers across the valley.
Along with providing training, it hosts a number of tournaments in badminton, table tennis, taekwondo, and many other sports.
From yoga to tennis and swimming to dance, the stadium provides diversity and member focus to individuals making it one of the best destinations for sports lovers across Kashmir.
Jhelum Stadium Baramulla
Jhelum Stadium Baramulla, which has recently been renamed as General Bipin Rawat Stadium, is located in the Azad Gunj area of Baramulla district. The stadium was established around three decades ago on the outskirts of Baramulla town to promote sports activities in northern parts of Kashmir.
Jhelum Stadium Baramulla is set to follow in the footsteps of TRC Turf Ground in getting an astroturf. It is regarded as the best stadium in North Kashmir and timely developments can help it meet international standards.
Amar Singh Club Ground
Amar Singh Club Ground is located in the Sonwar area of Srinagar. Established in 1960, the stadium was named by Maharaja Hari Singh in memory of his father, Raja Amar Singh. Apart from a cricket field, it also has a tennis court, badminton court, and two Squash courts.
It was the primary cricket venue between 1960 and 1999. It hosted 39 domestic and List A matches of the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team.
Multi-Purpose Indoor Hall Kupwara
Located in the Handwara area of district Kupwara, state-of-the-art multi-purpose indoor sports is the first of its kind in Kashmir. It was developed to support the sports enthusiasts of North Kashmir who want to showcase their talent on the big stage.
The recently opened hall is home to various sports such as gymnastics, badminton, basketball, volleyball, and Wushu. Inaugurated by JK Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, it marks a significant milestone for the local sports community.
Read More: International football players from Kashmir
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
