Bharat Express News Network Chairman, Managing Director (CMD) and Editor-in-Chief Upendrra Rai attended a gala dinner in Kolkata ahead of the much-anticipated international friendly between India and five-time world champions Brazil.
The landmark match will be played at the Salt Lake Stadium, officially known as Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The fixture has generated considerable excitement among football fans across India.
Speaking about the India-Brazil encounter, CMD Upendrra Rai described the fixture as a special occasion for Indian football and highlighted the ability of sport to bring people together.
He said, “It is extremely pleasant and exciting in itself to have a friendly match between the football teams of Brazil and India on the soil of Kolkata. The stadium has a capacity of 64,000 spectators, but looking at the kind of enthusiasm and the number of applications for tickets, it seems that an equal number of people may be standing outside the stadium to watch the match.”
“This friendly match is a unique and first-of-its-kind effort in India. It is very rare to see such a legendary team come to India and play. My son is very fond of football, which is why we have come to watch this match. I also prefer watching football much more than cricket. Sport does the most to bring people together. Whether one is a media partner or not is a separate matter, but all of us should contribute to every effort necessary to take the country and society forward,” he added.
Brazil’s Star Players Arrive in Kolkata
Brazil’s star-studded squad has arrived in Kolkata for the high-profile encounter. The visiting side features global football names such as Vinicius Jr, Endrick and Estevao.
The Brazilian delegation also inspected the Salt Lake Stadium ahead of the match.
The gala dinner brought together personalities from sport, cinema, politics and the media. Filmmaker Boney Kapoor, actor Arjun Kapoor and National Award-winning director Madhur Bhandarkar attended the event.
Several political figures, including MPs Nishikant Dubey and Kamlesh Paswan, Union Minister Prof SP Singh Baghel and Raksha Khadse, were also present.
CMD Upendrra Rai attended the dinner with his family and joined other guests in encouraging the players ahead of the landmark fixture.
Authorities have strengthened security around the 64,000-capacity stadium and are monitoring entry and traffic arrangements through CCTV cameras and drones.
The India-Brazil friendly has placed Kolkata at the centre of global football attention, while CMD Upendrra Rai’s presence at the gala dinner added a notable media and sports dimension to the landmark occasion.
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