Jamshedpur gears up to host U-17 Indian women team

All India Football Federation (AIFF) has presented the opportunity to host Indian U-17 women team for the coveted championship to Jharkhand, owing to committed efforts by CM Hemant Soren. PUJA SINGHAL, J’khand sports, culture, youth affairs, tourism secy

JAMSHEDPUR: Jamshedpur was gearing up to host the Under-17 Indian women team for the upcoming Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in India in 2022.

The development came to fore after Jharkhand sports, culture, youth affairs and tourism secretary Puja Singhal and director A Dode inspected JRD Tata Sports Complex and several city-based hotels for the same here on Tuesday.

“FIFA matches were earlier supposed to be held in March this year but the organisation has extended the dates in view of Covid-19 pandemic. All India Football Federation (AIFF) has presented the opportunity to host Indian U-17 women team for the coveted championship to Jharkhand, owing to committed efforts by CM Hemant Soren. We have selected Ranchi and Jamshedpur for jointly hosting preparatory camps for Indian women team,” Singhal said late on Tuesday.

Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Kolkata and Navi

Mumbai have already been confirmed as the five host cities for the tournament and will host the 32 matches involving 16 teams.

The preparatory camps will be held from later this month or March in a phased manner. Jamshedpur would host the first leg of the national preparatory camp for FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup tentatively scheduled from October 15 till November-end, by which physical upgradation works for accommodation of trainees (at Khelgaon near Hotwar in Ranchi) and ground preparation work (at Morabadi in Ranchi) would be completed.

Thereafter, the camp would shift to Ranchi. A joint team from SAI and state sports department has already expressed its satisfaction with the infrastructure in Jamshedpur.

Singhal and her team, accompanied by Jamshedpur DC Suraj Kumar, visited JRD Tata Sports Complex, Hotel Kenelite in Sakchi and gave necessary instructions for changing some system and facilities, as per FIFA guidelines. “JRD Tata Sports Complex is the ideal centre for holding such a camp and matches, as it is a high performance centre. Indian Super League (ISL) matches are regularly hosted and played here and it has vast experience for holding such international matches and providing best practice facilities,” said Singhal.