Srinagar, June 17: Over the past few years, there have been more night sports in Kashmir because floodlights have been put in many sites around the valley.
Sport fans said that over the past few years, there have been more sports events in Kashmir that take place at night. They say that football and cricket games are played everywhere in the UT.
Umar Farooq, a football fan from the outskirts of Hazratbal, says that football and cricket games are now being played after dark, which used to be impossible.
“I’ve been to these kinds of events, like football games at Srinagar’s TRC Turf Stadium. This has given us a better chance because now young people can go to these events without missing out on things like school or work. Floodlights have been added to many venues in downtown Srinagar and Ganderbal, which is a good sign, Umar said.
In 2019, floodlights were put up at TRC Turf Stadium Srinagar for the first time at an open sports venue in J&K. Over the next few years, floodlights were put in over 40 venues and playfields all over J&K, in places like Kupwara, Bandipora, Reasi, and Poonch.
The young people from Downtown said that many venues now have floodlights, which used to be a dream.
“Since floodlights were put up in stadiums like Gani Memorial Stadium RajouriKadal in the middle of the city, sports activities have picked up in the evenings. “We’ve played sports at night more than once,” said Sajid, who lives in downtown.
Night sports events in Old City grounds like Radapora, Anjum Ground Qamarwari, and ChinkralMohalla Stadium have helped get more people involved in sports there. The people who live there said that it has helped young people from other places join in.
Sports under floodlights have become more popular not only in Srinagar, but also in other parts of Kashmir. Officials said that the floodlights at the North Kashmir Khushaal Stadium and the SK Stadium in Bandipora have helped keep the events going.
The introduction of floodlights in the Synthetic Hockey Field Polo Ground, Rugby Field Polo Ground and Cricket Field TRC Ground has helped promote other sports as well as football.
In addition to the players, there are now more ways for fans to get involved and enjoy sports.
