Massive win for city players as hockey cup starts

Tribune News Service

amritsar, february 20

The host Khalsa Hockey Academy beat Steel Plant Bhilai by a whopping 7-0 as the All-India Guru Nanak Dev Hockey Gold Cup 2019 took off to a colourful start at historic Khalsa College here on Wednesday. Four matches were played in total. In the second match, RCF Kapurthala beat Badkhalsa (Haryana) team 6-0 while National Hockey Academy (MP) defeated Haryana XI 4-1 in the third match. The fourth match was in progress at the time of filing of this report.

The Gold Cup is being organised by Khalsa Hockey Academy under the Khalsa College Charitable Society on its historic college campus. It will conclude on February 24. Top hockey teams from across the country are participating in the tourney. The chief guest at the opening ceremony was KCGC honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina. He said the tourney was dedicated to Guru Nanak’s 550th Parkash Purb. Eight national level teams are participating in the event.

Indian women hockey team Captain Rani Rampal was also present. She said she was amazed to see the girl’s talent. “We need to encourage more youngsters to take up traditional and competitive sports to ensure that the country has a bright future in this field,” she said.

Chhina with Rampal, KU VC GS Walia, Principal Mehal Singh and Sports Director Kanwaljit Singh presided over the opening ceremony and took salute from the march past after hoisting the flag.

Chhina said the national game, especially for girls, needed to be promoted as he congratulated the winning teams. He said they were proud to host the tournament. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is the official sponsor of the event.

Hockey India coach and Olympian MK Kaushik, who was among the special guests, lauded the efforts being made by the Khalsa College management to promote hockey. He said the tournament should be the annual feature. Others present included Olympian Balwinder Shammi, physical education head Daljit Singh, principals of various Khalsa institutions, coaches and team managers.