Sudeep Pakrashi:
Hanle is historic and popular for being the home of the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO)-the third-highest optical observatory in the world. The valley in the Changthang district of Ladakh, which is nearly 15,000 feet above sea level, is going to witness a surprise this year that will add to its attractiveness.
1 Ladakh FC, the only professional football club in Ladakh, is in the process of organizing a two-day football tournament in Hanle, and the uniqueness of the competition is that it will happen under a full moon, with no floodlights to be used! The competition has been named ‘Football-Under-the-stars’.
A football tournament under the full moon is not generally seen. Only futsal football tournaments in the Maldives and Hong Kong under the full moon are held, and this will be the third football tournament in the world under the stars.
According to plans so far, 1 Ladakh FC is trying to rope in four teams from outside the country for the tournament, which will be a seven-a-side competition at the Indian army’s ground in Hanle.
Tsering Angmo, the club’s director, when contacted to know about the tournament, revealed, “During the Climate Cup football knock-out competition last year, a climate-summit also took place in Ladakh. A few people associated with a few teams from England were present at the summit. During the summit, we thought of introducing the ‘Football-under-the Stars’ tournament. But hosting a competition at Hanle is tough due to its altitude. We are grateful to the Indian Army for their infrastructural support, and the Ladakh Football Association (LFA) also. Efforts are on to stage the tournament in July-August.”
Meanwhile, LFA is the country’s first state football association, which is likely to make an official association with Bengaluru FC. Angmo, also the secretary of LFA, explained, “The tie-up has not yet been made. But talks are on. The tie-up will be on the grass-route development program. Due to the extreme cold in Ladakh, we do not get the full season to run our training program. That is the key reason behind our initiative to join hands with Bengaluru FC. Once it is materialized, our kids will be able to undergo a long-term training program in Bengaluru, under the club’s youth development coaches.”
However, the four-team Climate Cup in Ladakh is likely to see the addition of two more outstation teams participating in the knock-out tournament this year. Bengaluru FC and Inter Kashi have already confirmed their participation in the Climate Cup.
