Paljor Stadium

{{Short description|Association football stadium in Sikkim, India}} {{More citations needed|date=July 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox venue | name = Paljor Stadium | image = Paljor Stadium, Gangtok.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = View of the stadium | owner = Sikkim Football Association | broke_ground = 1939 | opened = 1943 | expanded = April 2001– September 2005 | renovated = 2022 | location = Gangtok, Sikkim | coordinates = | surface = Artificial turf | dimensions = {{convert|104|x|65|m|yd|abbr=on}} | architect = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | main_contractors = | construction_cost = | capacity = 30,000<ref>{{cite web|title=Paljor Stadium|accessdate=18 August 2017|publisher=soccerway|url=https://int.soccerway.com/venues/india/paljor-stadium/v8748/}}</ref> | tenants = SFA A-Division S-League<ref>{{cite news |title=PREMIER DIVISION S-LEAGUE 2019: KUMAR SPORTING FC 2–2 UNICORN FC AND SIKKIM AAKRAMAN FC 5–0 UNITED SIKKIM FC |url=https://www.goalie365.com/show_details.php?article_id=3113 |access-date=8 July 2020 |work=Goalie365 |date=31 August 2019}}</ref> 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''' is a football stadium located in Gangtok,<ref>{{cite web|first=Nilesh|last=Bhattacharya|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/bhutia-launches-united-sikkim-club-in-new-avatar/articleshow/7763137.cms?from=mdr|title=Bhaichung Bhutia launches United Sikkim in new avatar|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|publisher=The Times of India|access-date=8 October 2021|date=23 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121065938/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/bhutia-launches-united-sikkim-club-in-new-avatar/articleshow/7763137.cms?from=mdr|archive-date=21 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/united-sikkim-fc-pull-off-spectacular-win-crucial-sikkim-premier-league-match.html|title=United Sikkim FC pull off spectacular win in crucial Sikkim Premier League match|last=NE NOW NEWS|first=11:14 am|date=19 August 2018|access-date=15 April 2022|website=nenow.in|publisher=North East Now|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415142201/https://nenow.in/north-east-news/united-sikkim-fc-pull-off-spectacular-win-crucial-sikkim-premier-league-match.html|archive-date=15 April 2022}}</ref> Sikkim, India.<ref>{{cite web|title=USFC concludes training for Kalinga Cup & 2nd Div I-League|url=http://isikkim.com/2011-12-usfc-concludes-training-for-kalinga-cup-2nd-div-i-league-31-03/|publisher=iSikkim|access-date=16 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120131918/http://isikkim.com/2011-12-usfc-concludes-training-for-kalinga-cup-2nd-div-i-league-31-03/|archive-date=20 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sikkim Aakraman F.C. Sikkim Premier Division League Champions|url=http://sikkimexpress.com/NewsDetails?ContentID=6530&SectionID=2|website=sikkimexpress.com|publisher=The Sikkim Express|date=26 September 2017|access-date=28 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927145752/http://sikkimexpress.com/NewsDetails?ContentID=6530&SectionID=2|archive-date=27 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insidesport.in/fpai-awards-2023-bengaluru-fcs-sivasakthi-narayanan-wins-young-player-of-year-mumbai-city-fc-swoop-numerous-awards-check-out/|title=FPAI Awards 2023: Bengaluru FC's Sivasakthi Narayanan wins Young Player of year, Mumbai City FC SWOOP numerous awards – Check Out|date=13 May 2023|access-date=13 May 2023|website=insidesport.in|publisher=Inside Sport India|first=Triyasha|last=Chatterjee|location=Gangtok|archive-date=13 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513162608/https://www.insidesport.in/fpai-awards-2023-bengaluru-fcs-sivasakthi-narayanan-wins-young-player-of-year-mumbai-city-fc-swoop-numerous-awards-check-out/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Goalie365|title=Sikkim Football Association released the fixture for 2018 Sikkim Premier Division League at football house in Gangtok.|url=http://www.goalie365.com/show_details.php?article_id=2315/Sikkim%20Premier%20Division%20League%202018%20fixtures%20announced|publisher=Goalie365|access-date=16 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=TENZING TSHEPEL DOUBLE HAND SIKKIM AAKRAMAN FC CRUCIAL THREE POINTS|url=https://www.goalie365.com/show_details.php?article_id=1413|access-date=8 July 2020|publisher=Goalie365|website=www.goalie365.com|date=16 September 2017|archive-date=11 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711080035/https://www.goalie365.com/show_details.php?article_id=1413|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/india2020.html India 2019/20: Sikkim Governor's Gold Cup]. ''RSSSF''. Retrieved 3 October 2021.</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Aritra|last=Chowdhury|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/msc-confident-ahead-of-gold-cup-final-vs-sikkim-himalayan-fc/articleshow/72011202.cms|title=MSC confident ahead of Gold Cup final vs Sikkim Himalayan FC|website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|publisher=The Times of India|date=11 November 2019|access-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216195452/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/msc-confident-ahead-of-gold-cup-final-vs-sikkim-himalayan-fc/articleshow/72011202.cms|archive-date=16 December 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kolkatafootball.com/39th_sikkim_governors_gold_cup_2019/sikkim_gold_cup_final.html|title=39th SIKKIM GOVERNOR'S GOLD CUP 2019 SEMI-FINALS AND FINAL|website=Kolkatafootball.com|access-date=3 October 2021}}</ref>

thumb|alt=Paljor Stadium, Gangtok, Sikkim|Players in training at Paljor Stadium, Gangtok

[[File:The students, Army, ITBP and SSB personnel, NCC, NYK, Art of Living and yoga enthusiasts performed the drill guided by Yoga instructor from AYUSH Sikkim, Mr. Jagannath Niroula.jpg|thumb|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 {{INR}} 30 Crores, out of which {{INR}} 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. thumb|Seats in Paljor Stadium

{{coord|27.334131|88.611981|display=title|format=dms|type:landmark_scale:3000}}

==See also== * Bhaichung Stadium

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Football in Sikkim Category:Football venues in India Category:Sports venues in Sikkim Category:United Sikkim FC Category:I-League 2nd Division venues Category:Sports venues completed in 1943 Category:1943 establishments in Sikkim Category:20th-century architecture in India