Hawks Club’s proud history of grooming hockey talent since 1966
This is the time of year when hawks soar over the clear blue skies of Rupnagar, keenly observing every movement in their surroundings.
Down below, the Hawks Club ground teems with hundreds of budding hockey players, passionately honing their skills day in and day out.
It is the final day of the 32nd Dashmesh Hawks All India Hockey Festival. Defending champions BSF beat CRPF 5-4 in a tense shootout. Twelve top teams of the region — all united by the spirit of Guru Gobind Singh Ji — vied for the title.
The crowds enjoyed every bit of the game they love so dearly here. Throughout the tournament, music bands from Punjab Police and Haryana Homeguards kept them entertained with the mood oscillating from lilting to electrifying tunes.
Established in 1966 to promote hockey in Rupnagar and the surrounding areas, Hawks Club from the very beginning has known how to catch the imagination of the youth and channelise it into passion. Hockey is the be all and end all here.
Club members proudly say they are devoted to hockey only and no other activity is undertaken here. The fact that the club has Under-12, Under-14, Under-16, Under-19 and senior teams shows that it is rooted to its tradition and has a wide talent pool.
Without fail every morning and evening, more than 100 budding players are seen going through the drills at the two grounds of the club.
Club’s secretary Jasbir Singh Rai said, “More than 200 players have played at the national level. Reputed national teams such as Punjab Police, Northern Railways, Services, Indian Oil and Bharat Petroleum have our players. Among the internationals and Olympians, Baljit Singh Saini, Gurmail Singh, Gursewak Singh, Munish Kumar, Amarjit Singh, Dharamvir Singh, Gurinder Singh and Gaganjit Singh have played in this tournament.”
Dharamvir, who is now a Punjab Police DSP and played in the 2012 London Olympics, said, “This club has given me everything. I owe everything in my life to this club.”
Then there is Harjit Singh, who led the junior team to the World Cup title in 2016.
Club’s general secretary SS Saini reminisced, saying, “Initially to popularise hockey among the youngsters in the 1960s and 70s, the club hosted foreign teams from Spain, Canada, Germany, Japan, Singapore and Pakistan from 1966 to 1972. We have always tried to catch them young; that is the essence of this club.”
The present tournament was first played in 1972 at this ground. Back then, it was given an ‘A’ grade in domestic tournaments by the national federation.
Club members say this club is exclusive in the country that it has its own stadium, a six-a-side Astroturf ground, a gym, an administrative complex and other infrastructure.
Not very long ago, the cub had its watershed moment when it won the Punjab State Senior and Junior Hockey Championships in 2016. Almost everyone in Rupnagar remembers the year fondly.
Officials said the club members feel that now the tournament should be held on Astroturf rather than on grass. Presently, it is played in the old format of two halves as teams insist on playing this way. Rupnagar Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said, “It is a prestigious national-level tournament and promotes hockey in Punjab. The administration will take up the matter to install a full-fledged Astroturf here.”
