Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium at Sarusajai Sports Complex

The Sarusajai Sports Complex, also popularly called the Sarusajai Stadium, is a multi-sports facility centre located near Lokhra in Guwahati, Assam. It is one of the premier sports facilities in the Northeast region and hosts a variety of sporting events.

When then Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who was Union minister for sports and youth affairs before, said in 2017 that he wanted to make Guwahati a major sports destination, the Sarusajai Sports Complex was one of the main centres towards his vision.

The sports complex comprises the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium with a seating capacity of around 30,000 spectators. It hosts athletic events besides being the home of the Indian football team and NorthEast United FC.

Used mainly for football, Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium at Sarusajai Sports Complex has also had its fair share of athletic events. It hosted the 33rd National Games of India, 2016 South Asian Games, 2020 Khelo India Games among major competitions.

The stadium has an eight-lane synthetic track and state-of-the-art facilities for field events, including a long jump pit, triple jump pit, and high jump area.

The Sarusajai Stadium hosted the FIFA U-17 world cup football, FIFA World Cup and AFC Cup qualifier matches featuring India, and the 2022 Durand Cup besides regularly hosting Indian Super League (ISL) matches. It is the home of the NorthEast United FC which features in the ISL.

The sports complex also comprises Dr Zakir Hussain Aquatic Complex which hosts several swimming events and Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium in which competitions like badminton, volleyball, boxing, etc. are played. The indoor stadium hosted Premier Badminton League (PBL) in 2018.

File photo of Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium at Sarusajai in Guwahati
File photo of Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium at Sarusajai in Guwahati

Sarusajai Stadium has a rich history of hosting major sporting events and has played a key role in the development of sports in Assam. It is a popular venue for both athletes and sports fans and continues to be a valuable asset to the community.

In recent years, the stadium has undergone further renovations to improve the facilities and bring them up to international standards. These renovations have included the installation of new seating, the upgrading of the lighting system, and the construction of new dressing rooms and media facilities.

In addition to the sports facilities, Sarusajai Stadium also has a number of amenities for the convenience of visitors. These include temporary food and beverage outlets, restrooms, and parking facilities. The stadium also has a VIP area for special guests and dignitaries.

The Sarusajai Stadium area is also used for cultural events and concerts, in addition to sporting events. It has an open stage and seating area for large-scale events and has played host to a number of concerts and performances over the years.

Among major non-sports programmes, the Sarusajai Sports Complex played host to the Advantage Assam: Global Investment Summit in 2018 where business leaders from across India and South East Asia took part. Also, the huge area was the venue for the 65th Filmfare Awards in 2020 which was attended by top Bollywood celebrities and dignitaries.

The stadium is located in the heart of Guwahati, making it easily accessible for visitors. It is situated near major roads and has good public transportation connections.

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Assam government converted the open area and the indoor stadium into COVID care centres besides using the whole premises as a major facility for COVID management.

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