HT Correspondent
JORHAT, March 17:Â The Jorhat District Sports Association (JDSA) is readying to celebrate the centenary of the historic Jorhat Stadium with a year-long programme beginning from April 2.
The JDSA owns and runs the Jorhat Stadium.
Addressing a press meet at the JDSA sports office here JDSA president Santanu Pujari said that 100 flags will be hoisted in the morning to commemorate the day. In the evening there will be a grand cultural function.
Pujari said that state Sports Minister Bimal Borah would inaugurate the centenary celebrations on April 2. He would be accompanied by both the Rajya Sabha MP KP Tasa and Jorhat Lok Sabha MP Topon Gogoi.
The Jorhat Stadium which hosts a number of cricket and football matches was opened in 1950. It hosted the first Ranji Trophy match in Assam in 1949-50. The stadium which earlier had earthen galleries has a seating capacity of 12000.
The ATPA Shield football tournament will begin from March 30 and for the first time all the matches will be played at night under floodlights.
Pujari said that on the final day of the match scheduled on March 10, a marathon run will be flagged off from the stadium and the total prize money for the winners was Rs 1 lakh.
Pujari further said that every month other events would be held.
The JDSA has welcomed the budget announcement of state Finance Minister Ajanta Neog on Wednesday for infrastructure development of Jorhat Stadium which is in consonance with the centenary celebrations, Pujari further said.
