World Cup: Over 40,000 women to get free tickets to watch ENG vs NZ in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: Over 40,000 women from Ahmedabad are set to watch the England vs. New Zealand (ENG vs. NZ) match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad this Thursday. Local leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are making efforts to encourage women’s participation by distributing free tickets and offering complimentary tea and lunch, as reported by The Indian Express.

Lalit Wadhawan, the BJP vice president of the Bodakdev area, shared that the inspiration behind this initiative came from the passing of the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament earlier this year. He also mentioned that they have secured these tickets with the support of top party leadership.

The process of gathering women to attend the ENG vs. NZ match began a few days ago when BJP ward members used WhatsApp to request their workers compile a list of interested women from societies, apartments, and booth areas.

These free passes provided will only be valid for women and will include two tokens for tea, one for breakfast, and one for a food packet.

To ensure safety, the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) has set up several medical kiosks with six mini ICUs inside the Narendra Modi Stadium for any emergencies that may arise during the match. Additionally, approximately 3,000 police personnel and 600 private security members will be deployed both inside the stadium and around its perimeter during the opening match.

In a heart-warming gesture, the stadium will also feature special seating for cricket fans who are terminally ill. Twenty children who are battling cancer will be attending the contest alongside their doctors. These doctors will accompany them and will be situated in a designated area not accessible to the general public to minimise exposure.