Hockey fever returns: All-India memorial tournament kicks off

The All-India Dulip Singh Memorial Inter-School Hockey Tournament kicked off today at Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, marking its revival after a nine-year hiatus. This prestigious event coincides with the centenary celebration of 100 glorious years of Indian Hockey, paying tribute to the nation’s rich sporting legacy.

Instituted in memory of Lt Col Dulip Singh, an illustrious Old Cottonian (1952-1953), the tournament honours his outstanding contribution to sports and his lifelong passion for hockey. Lt Col Singh served as the House Captain of Lefroy House and a member of the prestigious Spartan Club. During his tenure at the Sandhurst Military Academy in England, he captained both the hockey and cricket teams and later went on to represent Malaysia in both sports.

Affiliated with the Indian Hockey Federation, the tournament has historically attracted top school teams from across the country. This year, leading schools from different regions have converged at Bishop Cotton School to reignite the spirit of camaraderie, competition and sportsmanship that defines the event.

Adding to the excitement, the matches are being played on the newly laid full-size AstroTurf hockey field, a state-of-the-art facility that has drawn widespread admiration. Indian Hockey Olympian Surinder Kumar, who was the chief guest at the opening ceremony, lauded the new turf, noting that such facilities are rare even among premier sporting schools in the country.

The participating schools include Yadavindra Public School (YPS), Mohali; Guru Nanak Public School, Nalagarh; Royal Public School, Baddi; Bishop Cotton School (A-Team) and Bishop Cotton School (B-Team). Matches are being played on a round-robin league basis, with the top two teams competing in the finals on November 15, 2025.