Our Sports ReporterLudhiana, December 16
From the next year, the All India Jagtar Memorial Hockey Tournament will be an international meet. This was announced by Mr Gurinder Preet Singh, general secretary of the tournament organising committee, after the meeting of the body, which met here today.
Mr Gurinder said that after the success of this annual feature during the past four editions, the committee had resolved to invite two foreign teams namely Pakistan and Bangladesh to take part in this tournament of the region. During this year’s meet 12 top outfits of the country — Air India, Sai XI from Kurukshetra, Ropar Hawks, Punjab and Sindh Bank, Namdhari XI, Sukhhain Academy of Faridkot, Amritsar XI, DAV XI of
Chandigarh, Kila Raipur Academy XI, Prithipal Academy of Ludhiana and the Centre of Excellence, Patiala — took part and the best available talent (junior) was seen in action during the meet held from November 29 to December 2.
He revealed that the committee had also decided to give scholarship to the four or five budding hockey players as per the
availability of funds with the organisers. Each player would be given Rs 12,000 or Rs 24,000 per year. Besides, one prominent sportsperson would be honoured for his or her contribution in the field of hockey, Mr Gurinder Preet Singh added.
The committee would also continue efforts to install floodlights at the Prithipal Singh
Astroturf stadium at the Punjab Agricultural University campus here. “They would seek assistance from other organisations in installing the lights at the stadium at the PAU since it would cost a very heavy amount,” Mr Gurinder Preet Singh said.
