Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium
Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, also known as Sarusajai Stadium,[3] is a football stadium in Guwahati, Assam, India. It is the current home ground of NorthEast United FC. Besides hosting football matches, the stadium is also used for athletics. It had a total capacity of 35,000 which was later reduced to 25,000 due to installation of bucket seats for 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which was hosted in India. In 2007, it hosted the 33rd National Games of India and in 2016, hosted the 12th South Asian Games. The stadium hosted the Assam Global Investors' Summit on 3 and 4 February 2018 and the 65th Filmfare Awards on 15 February 2020.[4][5]
Sarusajai Stadium | |
 | |
| Location | Sarusajai, Assam |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 26°06′56″N 91°45′37″E |
| Owner | Government of Assam |
| Capacity | 30,000[1] |
| Record attendance | 32,844 (20 October 2016, Chennaiyin FC vs Northeast United FC)[2] |
| Field size | 103 m × 70 m (113 yd × 77 yd) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 2007 |
| Tenants | |
| India national football team (2011–present) NorthEast United FC (2014–present) Assam State Premier League (proposed) | |
The stadium recorded the highest attendance for a football game in Assam when 32,844 spectators came to see the ISL match between local club NorthEast United and visitors Chennaiyin on 20 October 2016.
History
This one-tier multipurpose stadium is located in Lokhra, Guwahati, Assam, Northeast India. There is only a limited number of seats in the main stand however bucket seats are now installed for rest of the stands to conduct the FIFA U17 World Cup, 2017.
The stadium pays tribute to the late Indira Gandhi who was the third Prime Minister of India. An international friendly between India and Malaysia was played at this stadium on 13 November 2011. On 12 March 2015 India played against Nepal for the 2018 World Cup qualifier.
From 2014, it has been the home ground for NorthEast United FC in the Guwahati-based Indian Super League side, and for which it underwent major renovations.
The stadium was selected as one of the venues for the FIFA U-17 World Cup which was held in India in 2017.
The stadium was the main venue of 2016 South Asian Games, which was held in both Guwahati and Shillong from 5 to 16 February 2016.[6]
The stadium was also used by I-League champions Aizawl FC (2016–17) of Mizoram and Minerva Punjab FC (2017–18) of Punjab as their home ground for AFC group stage matches.
The stadium was selected as one of the provisional venues for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup that was to be held in India in 2020 where it was expected host the opening.[7] The tournament later got postponed due to COVID-19 and the stadium was dropped from the list of venues.
On March, 2020, the Government of Assam constructed isolation wards during the COVID-19 pandemic in India in the premises.[8]
Major Football Matches
As well as local matches, the stadium has also hosted major national and international matches.
India national football team matches
| 13 November 2011 International friendly | India  | 1 - 1 |  Malaysia | Guwahati |
Nabi  88' |
Report | Safiq 42' |
Stadium: Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium Attendance: 20,092 |
| 12 March 2015 World Cup Qualifier | India | 2 - 0 |  Nepal | Guwahati |
| 19:00 UTC+5:30 | Chhetri 53', 71' |
Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
Stadium: Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium Attendance: 11,209 Referee: Aziz Asimov (Uzbekistan) |
| 7 June 2016 Asian Cup qual. – PO | India | 6–1 |  Laos | Guwahati |
| 19:00 UTC+5:30 | Lalpekhlua 43', 74' Passi 45+1'Jhingan 48'Rafique 83'Cardozo 87' |
Report Goal.com |
Sihavong 16' |
Attendance: 2,721 Referee: Jansen Foo (Singapore) |
| 5 September 2019 2022 AFC WC Q | India | 1–2 |  Oman | Guwahati |
| 19:30 IST | Chhetri 24' |
FIFA | Al-Alawi 82', 90' |
Stadium: Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium Attendance: 22,798 Referee: Mooud Bonyadifard (Iran) |
2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup matches.
| 8 October 2017 U-17 World Cup – Group Stage | New Caledonia .svg.png.webp){kind=small} | 1–7 |  France | Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati |
| 17:00 UTC+5:30 |
|
Report | Attendance: 12,640 Referee: Hamada Nampiandraza (Madagascar) |
| 8 October 2017 U-17 World Cup – Group Stage | Honduras  | 1–6 |  Japan | Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati |
| 20:00 UTC+5:30 |
|
Report | Attendance: 13,285 Referee: Anthony Taylor (England) |
| 11 October 2017 U-17 World Cup – Group Stage | France | 2–1 | Japan | Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati |
| 17:00 UTC+5:30 |
|
Report | Attendance: 9,575 Referee: Gery Vargas (Bolivia) |
| 11 October 2017 U-17 World Cup – Group Stage | Honduras | 5–0 | New Caledonia | Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati |
| 20:00 UTC+5:30 | Report | Attendance: 11,002 Referee: Mehdi Abid Charef (Algeria) |
| 14 October 2017 U-17 World Cup – Group Stage | France | 5–1 | Honduras | Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati |
| 17:00 UTC+5:30 | Report |
|
Attendance: 12,831 Referee: Muhammad Taqi (Singapore) |
| 14 October 2017 U-17 World Cup – Group Stage | Mexico  | 0–0 |  Chile | Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati |
| 20:00 UTC+5:30 | Report | Attendance: 15,794 Referee: Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia) |
Major Events
Bihu Dance Performance
On a 14 April 2023, on the occasion of Bohag Bihu, over 11,000 dancers and musicians gathered at the stadium to perform the traditional Assamese Bihu dance, setting two world records. This performance achieved the world record for the largest Bihu dance performance and the largest performance by folk musicians.[9] The event lasted for 15 minutes and showcased the talents of more than 7,000 dancers and over 3,000 dhol drummers and other musicians.[10][11]
The event was attended by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Himanta Biswa Sarma also received a Geographical Indication registration certificate for the Gamosa, the traditional Assamese scarf, which was given in December 2022.[12][13]
References
- FIFA.com
- The official site of Hero Indian Super League | Matchcentre
- "FIFA team visits Sarusajai stadium". Assam Tribune. 19 February 2017. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- Singh, Bikash (27 September 2018). "Advantage Assam: Global Investors' Summit has attracted Rs. 8,020.21 crore till now says Chandra Mohan Patwary". The Economic Times. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Filmfare Awards 2020 All Set To Be Hosted In Guwahati". filmfare.com. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- Chaudhury, Dipanjan Roy (12 December 2015). "India to host South Asian Games (SAG) in Guwahati and Shillong". The Economic Times. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- Lokapally, Vijay. "FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup: Guwahati to host opener, final in Mumbai". Sportstar. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Assam government transforms Sarusajai Stadium into coronavirus isolation facility". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Assam shatters world records with over 11,000 performers in Bihu Dance extravaganza | TOI Original - Times of India Videos". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- "Bihu dance sets world record, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma shares another video of the performance". Hindustan Times. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- Time, Pratidin. "Assam Enters Guinness Book Of World Records With Largest Bihu Performance". Pratidin Time. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- "Bihu performance with over 11,300 dancers, drummers enters Guinness World Records". India Today. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- "PM Modi Attends Mega Bihu Programme At Sarusajai Stadium In Guwahati [WATCH]". TimesNow. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
External links
- Stadium information Archived 24 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Stadium history
- Groundhopping page