Where was the Santosh Trophy Final 2023, a national football championship, held?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Correct Answer
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
(Note: If this question is from an exam portal where one option must be selected due to an official misprint, please cross-verify with your specific exam answer key. Some test preparation platforms mistakenly list Kerala—the host of the previous 2021-22 edition—as the answer.)
Explanation
The final match of the 76th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy (2022-23) was played at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on March 4, 2023. This marked a historic milestone in Indian football, as it was the first time the knockout stages and the final match of this premier domestic tournament were held outside of India.
The international venue was chosen following an agreement between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation to promote Indian football and engage with the large Indian diaspora in the Middle East. In the final, Karnataka defeated Meghalaya 3-2 to lift the prestigious trophy after a long 54-year wait (their previous title win was in 1968-69 as Mysore state).
Key Points
The previous edition (75th Santosh Trophy 2021-22) final was held in Malappuram, Kerala, where Kerala defeated West Bengal. The options provided in the question mistakenly align with previous tournament locations rather than the 2023 international venue.
Meghalaya created history during this tournament by qualifying for the final of the Santosh Trophy for the first time in their history.
Services secured the third position in the 2022-23 edition by defeating Punjab 2-0 in the third-place playoff match, which was also hosted in Riyadh.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Which state team won the Santosh Trophy 2023 national football championship in Riyadh?
Answer: Karnataka won the championship by defeating Meghalaya in the final match.
Question: Who was the governing body responsible for organizing the historic international phase of the Santosh Trophy in Saudi Arabia?
Answer: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) organized the event in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.