Tags:
Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, February 14: Mid-fielder Saurabh Bisht of Siksha Bharti School will lead a 20-member Delhi State football team in the XXI Sub-Junior (Under-16) football championship for Justice Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy commencing tomorrow at three venues — Dr Ambedkar Stadium, Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium warm-up ground and Thyagraj Nagar Sports Complex.
Among the six preliminary league matches to be played on Day One, Delhi open their campaign against 1991 champions Rajasthan in the inuagural match at Ambedkar Stadium. In another Pool D match, 1981 winners Kerala meet Meghalaya at the Ambedkar Stadium while at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (warm-up) ground last year’s semi-finalists Manipur and Pondicherry clash in a Pool A tie while Gujarat meets Uttar Pradesh in the same group.
Twenty of the thirty participating teams have already reached Delhi. Ten National referees alongwith match commissioner SK Bhattacharya, former FIFA referee have also arrived. BS Chauhan of Delhi will be the referees-in-charge.
Host Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) has roped in the Mayor Group of Finance and Nestle Milo as co-sponsors for the championship. Nestle Milo will provide free drinks to the players during the meet.
The quarter-final league will commence from February 22. Both the semi-finals will be held on February 28 and the final is slated for March 2.
Delhi team
Goalkeeper: Arjun Singh (Mamta Modern), Sanjeev Kumar (Sikhsa Bharti).
Defenders: Kuldip Singh, Sanjay Dhyani, Nitesh Kumar, Mohd. Fardeen (all Mamta Modern), Shailender Kumar (Siksha Bharti), Bharat Bhusan (Sarvodaya Vidayalaya), Anil Bara (Siksha Bharti).
Mid-fielders: Nitin Pant, Amit Sharma — (vice-captain), Ninja Kabui (all Mamta Modern), Saurabh Bisht (captain-Siksha Bharti), Praveen Rawat (S. S. Khalsa), Abhishek Kumar (Govt. Boys Sr. Secondary School), Mohd. Mamid (Anglo Arabic).
Forwards: Christopher D, Sumit Thapa, Chandan Dora (Siksha Bharti) P. Lawrence (St. Columbus).
Stand-byes: Tikkim Bisht (Sarvodaya), Shahzed Ali (Jamila Milia), Vijay Sharma (Siksha Bharti).
Officials: Dev Raj Katyal and Jamaluddin (Managers).
Coach: Harish Kumar.
