Paljor Stadium

Paljor Stadium

View of the stadium
Location	Gangtok, Sikkim
Owner	Sikkim Football Association
Capacity	30,000 [1]
Field size	104 m × 65 m (114 yd × 71 yd)
Surface	Artificial turf
Construction
Broke ground	1939
Opened	1943
Renovated	2022
Expanded	April 2001– September 2005
Tenants
SFA A-Division S-League [2] Sikkim Premier League Sikkim B Division Sikkim C Division Sikkim Gold Cup Independence Cup Sikkim Women's Super League Sikkim football team Sikkim women's football team

Paljor Stadium (also spelled Palzor Stadium) is a football stadium located in Gangtok, ^{[3] [4]} Sikkim, India. ^{[5] [6] [7] [8] [9]} It can host 30,000 spectators. Besides earlier hosting the I-League and the I-League 2, the stadium also hosts matches of various local divisions and tournaments. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

Players in training at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok

The stadium during yoga programme

History

Foundation

Chogyal nicknamed the stadium around 1943 because Britishers and a few members of the aristocratic family of Sikkim played at the Polo Ground. The old timers recall this flat piece of land being used by the Tibetan traders to station their herds of sheep en route to Sikkim and India. Around 1939 one of the political officers, Sir Basil Gould had sanctioned Rs.3000 (approx $75.2634) to the forest department and ordered that the grass demonstration farm be set up there. The whole task was completed in April 1941. Later Paljor Stadium proved to be a major venue of all public meetings, including those of Prime ministers and religious leaders.

Renovation

It was on 24 July 1998 that a High power state committee constituted by the government took a decision to upgrade and renovate the existing Paljor Stadium. The project of redesigning and modernizing cost was around ₹ 30 Crores, out of which ₹ 15.36 Crores was from DONER contribution and remaining from the State coffer. The actual work started off in 2001. The modern look of the stadium was designed by M/S Architect Consultant Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata and its execution was assigned to Civil Engineers Enterprise Ltd. Kolkata. Initially the project was scheduled to be completed by March 2004, but owning the additional work the date was shifted to April 2005.

Upgradation of the stadium

The work on the upgradation of Paljor Stadium was started in April 2001 and has been completed and the Stadium has been since handed over to the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs. The Stadium has an estimated sitting capacity of 25,000 spectators and the accumulated cost of construction stands at Rs. 30.70 crores. It has the following facilities:

• International size turf football field
• Electronic scoreboard
• Hostel accommodation
• Media centre
• VIP lounge
• Physiotherapy centre
• Indoor hall

The ultra-modern Paljor Stadium was inaugurated by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the President of India on 22 September 2005 in the presence of the Governor of Sikkim and Dr. Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister of Sikkim.

Seats in Paljor Stadium

27°20′03″N88°36′43″E / 27.334131°N 88.611981°E / 27.334131; 88.611981

See also

• Bhaichung Stadium

References

1. "Paljor Stadium". soccerway. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
2. "PREMIER DIVISION S-LEAGUE 2019: KUMAR SPORTING FC 2–2 UNICORN FC AND SIKKIM AAKRAMAN FC 5–0 UNITED SIKKIM FC". Goalie365. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
3. Bhattacharya, Nilesh (23 March 2011). "Bhaichung Bhutia launches United Sikkim in new avatar". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The Times of India. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
4. NE NOW NEWS, 11:14 am (19 August 2018). "United Sikkim FC pull off spectacular win in crucial Sikkim Premier League match". nenow.in. North East Now. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
5. "USFC concludes training for Kalinga Cup & 2nd Div I-League". iSikkim. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
6. "Sikkim Aakraman F.C. Sikkim Premier Division League Champions". sikkimexpress.com. The Sikkim Express. 26 September 2017. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
7. Chatterjee, Triyasha (13 May 2023). "FPAI Awards 2023: Bengaluru FC's Sivasakthi Narayanan wins Young Player of year, Mumbai City FC SWOOP numerous awards – Check Out". insidesport.in. Gangtok: Inside Sport India. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
8. Goalie365. "Sikkim Football Association released the fixture for 2018 Sikkim Premier Division League at football house in Gangtok". Goalie365. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
9. "TENZING TSHEPEL DOUBLE HAND SIKKIM AAKRAMAN FC CRUCIAL THREE POINTS". www.goalie365.com. Goalie365. 16 September 2017. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
10. India 2019/20: Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup. RSSSF. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
11. Chowdhury, Aritra (11 November 2019). "MSC confident ahead of Gold Cup final vs Sikkim Himalayan FC". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
12. "39th SIKKIM GOVERNOR'S GOLD CUP 2019 SEMI-FINALS AND FINAL". Kolkatafootball.com. Retrieved 3 October 2021.