Guwahati, May 13: The prospects of Judges Field being reserved exclusively for sports have brightened after the state administration gave its nod to set up an indoor cricket facility and the Gauhati Town Club pavilion there.
The president of the Veteran Cricket Association of Assam, Umesh Chandra Sarma, said the district administration has allotted to the organisation a plot measuring 56 metres by 20 metres on the southern side of the ground for the construction of an indoor cricket facility.
The Rs 45-lakh cricket project will have indoor facilities for two turf wickets for round-the-year practise, a conference hall and a gymnasium. The pavilion will come up on an adjoining plot housing the Town Club office to mark its centenary celebrations.
The Judges Field has been reduced to a ground for public meetings and sundry fairs. As long as the ground was informally with the Town Club, it was the hub of sporting activities and had hosted the Bordoloi Trophy and Ranji Trophy.
Sources in the district administration said there was a move to develop the field into a sports complex. He cited the official approval of the new construction as proof of this altered mindset.
The district administration is planning to shift the venue for fairs and exhibitions, which have been held at the Judges Field till now, to another venue near the proposed interstate bus terminus along the National Highway 37.
The Town Club demanded that the Bordoloi Trophy be hosted at the Judges Field to restore its lost glory. “We are sure the ground will attract more crowds than Nehru Stadium,” its president Jagannath Sarma said.
The Town Club proposes to build a Rs 45-lakh indoor stadium with facilities for a dormitory, guest rooms and restaurant.
The ground also houses the Guwahati Volleyball Academy.
Women’s camp
The Assam Football Association has called 35 probables for a coaching-cum-selection camp to select the state team for the national women’s football championship, beginning June 8 in Chennai. The camp in Mangaldoi will start on Friday under coach Pradip Kumar Brahma, who is currently coaching the men’s squad for the Talimeren Ao Trophy.
THE PROBABLES: Dhwrwmsuli Boro, Snehlata Baglari, Bina Suri, Phwilesem Boro, Rekha Boro, Golapi Khaklari, Juchila Tirkey, Alma Mince, Reena Boro and Purnima Boro (Mangaldoi), Manju Chaliha, Dipti Hazarika, Mamu Chaudang Gogoi, Julee Topno, Pratima Gogoi, Rajani Lakra, Nitumoni Saikia, Anjana Saikia, Minakshi Borgayari, Anjulina Khalkho, Purabi Sonowal and Geeta Romoni (Naharkatiya), Kareng Teronpi, Rina Rongpipi and Ruplan Ingtipi (Karbi Anglong), Jyotsna Dey, Baby Buragohain, Dipa Boro, Anjana Pegu, Kunti Dighal and Ruma Munda (Bokakhat), Dipali Boro and Lovita Kumar (Rangiya), Madhumita Saikia (Jorhat) and Niru Koch (Dibrugarh).
