Leh :Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena on Thursday inaugurated India’s highest Astro Turf football ground at an altitude of 11,500 feet in Leh, along with a newly-constructed VIP stand and an eight-lane synthetic athletic track at the Open Stadium, marking a major expansion of sports infrastructure in the Union Territory.
The modern sports facilities, developed at a cumulative cost exceeding ₹30 crore, have been constructed under the Special Development Package (SDP) and the Government of India’s Khelo India scheme. Officials said the infrastructure is expected to provide athletes in Ladakh access to year-round training and competition facilities despite the region’s harsh climatic conditions.
The newly-developed sports complex includes an international-standard Astro Turf football ground, an eight-lane synthetic athletic track, spectator galleries, long jump pits, handball and volleyball courts, besides a VIP stand constructed at a cost of ₹19.85 crore. The synthetic track and football turf were developed at a cost of ₹10.50 crore under the Khelo India programme.
A 64-room youth hostel has also been established within the complex to accommodate athletes, coaches and visiting teams participating in sports events and training camps in Leh.
Describing the inauguration as a turning point for sports development in Ladakh, Saxena said the facilities would open new avenues for young athletes in the region and strengthen efforts to build a sports-oriented culture among the youth.
“It is for the first time in the history of Ladakh that athletes have access to international-level sports infrastructure within the region itself,” the Lieutenant Governor said, while acknowledging the support extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Government towards the development of Ladakh.
Saxena observed that high-altitude training conditions in Ladakh could help athletes build endurance, resilience and physical stamina necessary for competitive sports at national and international levels.
The inauguration ceremony also featured an exhibition 400-metre mixed relay race and a football match between Skalzangling FC and Dzawo 11 FC.
