The steel city is being looked upon as an alternative venue for the national camp for the Fifa under-17 World Cup to be held next in India.

A recce team led by state sports director Anil Kumar Singh inspected the available facilities in Jamshedpur on Friday. He also held a discussion with officials of Tata Steel sports wing who accompanied the team from Ranchi during the inspection.

The team inspected JRD Tata Sports Complex and the ground at Flatlets in Kadma as well as some hotels. Besides sports director Singh, district sports officer Manmohan Prasad, Jharkhand Football Association president Nazm Ansari, Tata Steel sports wing chief Farzan Heerjee, Jamshedpur FC CEO Mukul Choudhari were among others who were present while the inspection was underway.

Sports director Singh said Jamshedpur was being looked at as an alternative venue for the women’s national camp. “Though the camp is scheduled in Ranchi but we have to also look at other alternative venues. Jamshedpur is an apt venue. A team from Sports Authority of India (SAI)-Calcutta will also inspect the facilities in Jamshedpur,” he said.

Asked when the camp will be conducted, the sports director added it would be held sometime in October. “We are waiting for the government guidelines. The dates for the camp would be announced in consultation with SAI (Calcutta),” the sports director added.

Though the JRD Tata Sports Complex has been made a Covid Centre by the district administration, sources at Tata steel sports wing said necessary arrangements can be made for conducting the camp. “Barricading of the ground and a separate area can be arranged at the stadium,” one of the sources said requesting anonymity.

“We are prepared to host the camp at short notice. Though the JRD Tata Sports Complex has not been used for five months we can always deck up the venue,” another source at the Tata Steel sports wing said, adding a recce team from SAI (Calcutta) was expected to visit Jamshedpur shortly,” a source informed.