Jammu: The Indian government has agreed to the suggestion of Jammu and Kashmir government to host a mega football event in Kashmir during the summers this year.
“The Centre has agreed to the suggestion of Jammu and Kashmir government to host a mega football event in Kashmir during the summers this year,” an official spokesman said here Thursday.
This suggestion to hold such a football event was mooted by Minister for Medical Education, Youth Services & Sports, Taj Mohi-ud-Din a few months back and on Thursday the same was approved during a meeting convened by Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) at New Delhi, he added.
Prominent football teams like Mohammaden Sporting Club, Kolkatta, Air India, ONGC, Goa Football Club, J&K Football-XI, J&K Police XI, J&K SRTC-XI and PDC-XI shall be participating in this tournament, he said.
The venues for all the matches have been fixed at Bakshi Stadium Srinagar, Astro Turf TRC, Baramulla and Bandipora, the spokesman added.
The meeting, which was attended by Joint Secretary, MYAS, Onkar Kedia, Secretary, J&K State Sports Council, Dileep Thusu, Secretary, Sports Authority of India, Neeraj Kansil, Secretary All India Football Federation, Kushal Das and other senior officers, also decided that such football cups shall be held every year onwards, hold I-League Federation Cup for Football in Srinagar where National and International teams are expected to participate and Air India would provide concessional tickets to the players visiting Srinagar in connection with these events, he said.

Reader correspondent