Spirit of hockey ignites at Spring Dale

Celebrations were in the air as the holy city welcomed the Junior Hockey World Cup Trophy 2025 at Spring Dale Senior School. Hockey India chose Amritsar as a venue for the nationwide trophy tour for the prestigious tournament. The trophy will travel to different parts of the country, spreading excitement and anticipation for the event.

Officials from Hockey India, along with hockey Olympians and former players, including Balwinder Singh Shammi and current Indian team member Shamsher Singh, both from Amritsar, unveiled the trophy.

The World Cup trophy was received by Sahiljit Singh Sandhu, Chairman of Spring Dale Educational Society and president of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey Academy (MRSHA). While welcoming the Hockey India delegation, Sandhu fondly recalled his parents’ passion for sports, which formed the base of the untiring efforts to restore the pride of the national game and revive the sport in the border belt.

“Their dream became a reality as young talent nurtured at Spring Dale Senior School blossomed into national and international-level hockey players, including Olympians who made the nation proud,” said Sandhu. “Our alumnus, Araijeet Singh Hundal, has represented India in the last two Junior World Cups.”

The 14th edition of the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup will be held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, from November 28 to December 10. The tournament will feature 24 teams for the first time.

In his address, Olympian Balwinder Singh Shammi, currently Chief Selector of the Indian Hockey Team and Chairman of MRSHA, reminisced about his academy’s long association with the late Dr Shivinder Singh Sandhu and Manveen Sandhu. He thanked the school management for its enduring partnership with Hockey Punjab and the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey Academy, which has helped produce numerous national and international players over the years.

Olympian and Arjuna Award winner Shamsher Singh also expressed his enthusiasm for witnessing new talent in action.

“Hockey has been seeing tremendous growth in both audience and talent. Amritsar has long been a nurturing ground for the sport and it’s inspiring to see the younger generation stepping into the spotlight,” he said.

Among the dignitaries present were Dr Kirat Sandhu Cheema, Director of Spring Dale Educational Society; Bikramjit Singh, member of India’s winning team at the Junior World Cup 2001; Nirmal Singh, International Hockey Player; Kuljit Singh Bamrah, Senior Hockey Coach; Jaswant Singh Kalra; and Dr Senthil Raj Kumar, General Secretary, Hockey Tamil Nadu.

Students and teachers were thrilled to hold the coveted trophy, their excitement reflecting the growing anticipation for the upcoming tournament and their heartfelt wish for Team India to lift the Junior Hockey World Cup 2025.