I-League Qualifiers: 1Sports set to telecast mini-tournament games

Published at :October 3, 2020 at 10:04 PM

Modified at :October 6, 2020 at 2:51 AM

Kolkata-based Parallel Sports will exclusively carry out the production of the feed for the competition.

1Sports, owned by Lex Sportel Vision, is all set to broadcast the upcoming I-League Qualifiers which will begin from 8th October, Khel Now can confirm. Kolkata-based Parallel Sports will exclusively carry out the production of the entire tournament.

"The I-League Qualifiers will be broadcast by 1Sports on their television channel as well as on their Facebook page. Kolkata-based Parallel Sports is doing the production," a source close to the developments told Khel Now. The tournament will mark the much anticipated return of Indian football after a long hiatus and with the games set to be broadcast, fans can finally heave a sigh of relief.

Earlier, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had announced the opening of bids for the telecast of the games. "All India Football Federation has issued a notice to accept bids for the production of the I-League Qualifiers 2020, which are slated to kick-off at the YBK Stadium in Kolkata with Bhawanipore FC taking on FC Bengaluru United on Thursday. Interested bidders need to submit their bid documents, as per the directions laid down in the official bidding document on or before 30th September," a statement from the governing body read.

Meanwhile, the tournament is set to be played in Kolkata at two venues -- the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) and Kalyani Stadium. The five participating teams -- ARA FC (Ahmedabad), Garhwal FC (Delhi), FC Bengaluru United (Bengaluru), Mohammedan SC and Bhawanipore FC (Kolkata), have already arrived in the City of Joy and are currently under the bio-bubble as per regulations.

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The 2nd Division League was called off midway through the previous season due to the coronavirus pandemic and the AIFF thus decided to organize the said Qualifiers, the winners of which would gain promotion to the I-League next season. With the players currently in a four-day isolation, it will be interesting to see which team come out on top in the end, especially with the telecast now available.