J’khand bags rights to organise FIFA Under-17 Women WC nat'l camp, eyes ’22 Women AFC Cup

Ranchi: Jharkhand has bagged the rights to organise the national camp for Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup in Ranchi next month, which was earlier scheduled to be held in Goa.
Buoyed by the achievement of its efforts in bagging the rights, the state department of sports, arts, culture and youth affairs is aiming to host the Women's AFC Cup in the city in November 2022.
On Wednesday, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) approved Jharkhand’s proposal to host the national camp in the state. SAI made the approval as the country’s football body, All India Football Federation (AIFF), has been temporarily de-recognised by the Union sports ministry.
SAI executive director (teams) Radhica Sreeman informed the state sports secretary Pooja Singhal about the approval. In a letter, Sreeman said, “We would like to go ahead with the conduct of the national camp for the FIFA U-17 women's football team at Ranchi, Jharkhand.”
The letter directed the state sports department to abide by the standard operating procedures (SOP) during the camp period. A team of two officials from SAI (NERC), Kolkata, will visit Jharkhand for inspection of the facilities, including boarding areas of the players, playing fields, the distance in between and transportation, if necessary, and dining halls among others, it added.
According to a government statement, the Birsa Munda Football Stadium in Morhabadi and the Mega Sports Complex at Khelgaon in Hotwar have been shortlisted to host the camp.
As many as 35 probable players for the Indian team will take part in the camp. Eight players from the state — Astam Oraon, Sudha Amrita Tirkey, Sumati Kumari, Purnima Kumari, Amisha Baxla, Nitu Linda, Sunita Kumari and Salima Kumari — are among them. The tournament is scheduled to be held in India next year.
A sports department official said, “Hosting the national camp and conducting associated work will make the 35,000 spectator-capacity Birsa Munda Football Stadium and the Khelgaon complex to get certification from FIFA or AFC, which will help in bidding for the AFC Women’s Cup two years later.”
Chief minister Hemant Soren visited the football stadium and interacted with the eight state players who have started camping and training since the last one week. Earlier, the eight players, who are from poor families, were stranded at their homes during the lockdown and many of them were struggling to arrange two square meals a day.
Assuring them of all requisite facilities, Soren said: “You will be training under my eyes. I will keep track of your progress daily.”
Soren also said his government has grand plans for the development of sports in the state. “The new sports policy will prove to be a milestone for the upcoming crop of players and help Jharkhand carve a name for itself in the sporting world.”