New Delhi: The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangana, widely known as the Salt Lake Stadium, in Kolkata has been granted with Category 2 certificate by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The multi-purpose stadium in the Bidhannagar area of the West Bengal capital city has the capacity to host 85,000 spectators. The facility can now host national and international hockey matches as well, though its quite popular to be the place to watch the action of football, including hosting the Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan FC and East Bengal FC.
Hockey India, the national body of the sport in the country, congratulated the venue for its recognition and termed it as the next big move for the growth of the field hockey in the nation, which has tasted success at the global stage with back-to-back medals at the Paris Olympics.
“Congrats to Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangana, Salt Lake, Kolkata for earning the FIH Category 2 Certificate! A big step forward for hockey excellence,” Hockey India posted on ‘X’.
New Venue Alert🎉🏑
Congrats to Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangana, Salt Lake, Kolkata for earning the FIH Category 2 Certificate!
A big step forward for hockey excellence. 🌟#HockeyIndia #IndiaKaGame
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.@CMO_Odisha @IndiaSports @sports_odisha @Media_SAI @FIH_Hockey pic.twitter.com/W7LQYX6kB2— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) February 9, 2025
Kolkata is the latest addition to the Indian cities which can host international hockey matches after Bhubaneswar,, Rourkela, Raipur, Ranchi, Chennai, and New Delhi having recognised venues under the FIH Certified Fields.
According to the FIH Field Certification, only the best hocky fields in the world are qualified to be certified by the global governing body of the sport. There are five levels of certification – Category 1, Category 2, Category 3, Category 4 and Category 5.
The FIH Category 1 recognises the fields which are eligible to host top-level international tournament while Category 2 means the field meets the requirement of hosting international and top-level national competitions.
In its certification to the venue, the FIH stated: “FIH is pleased to confirm that this hockey field has been tested and shown to comply with the requirements of an FIH Category 2 hockey field.”
The certification of the venue is valid until December 13, 2027. According to FIH’s portal, a total of 66 venues in India fall under the Category 2. The Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela and the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar are the two venues in the country which have a recognition of Category 1.
(With inputs from PTI)
The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangana (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata has achieved FIH Category 2 certification, enabling it to host international and national hockey matches. The stadium, with an 85,000-person capacity, joins other Indian venues with FIH certification, expanding opportunities for the sport’s growth. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
