19th Balwant Singh Kapur Hockey tourney begins today in Jalandhar

The 19th All India Balwant Singh Kapur Hockey Tournament (Under 19 Boys) for Mata Prakash Kaur Cup will be held from December 7 to December 14 at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar. Giving information in this regard, Tournament Committee Manager Harbhajan Singh Kapur said that this tournament will be played on knock-out cum league basis.

The winning team of the tournament will be given Rs 1.50 lakh in cash and the winner’s cup while the runner-up team will be given a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. The third-placed team will be given Rs 80,000 in cash and the fourth-placed team will be given Rs 60,000 in cash.

During the tournament, the Fair Play Trophy, which will be given in memory of Harmohinder Kaur’s wife Gursharan Singh, will be presented. During the tournament, 6 best players will be announced, including the best goalkeeper, best full back, best half back, best forward and best scorer and emerging player. All of them will be given Rs 10,000-10,000 in cash. These players will be selected by a committee based on Olympian Ajit Pal Singh. The best players will be announced during all the matches of the tournament and they will be given bags, boots and trophies. This time 16 teams from across the country are participating. This tournament is recognised by Hockey India. Olympian Sanjeev Kumar will be the chief observer.

He said that Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal MP will inaugurate the tournament on December 7, while on December 14, Lieutenant General Ajay Chanpuria will distribute prizes to the winners. The teams participating in the tournament include Round Glass Hockey Academy, SGPC Academy, SAI Imphal, Ghuman Hira Risers Academy Delhi, Odisha Naval Tata Academy, Army Boys Bangalore, SAI Lucknow, Shahabad Hockey Academy Haryana, SAI Sonipat, Surjit Hockey Academy Jalandhar, SAIL Academy Rourkela, Jarkhar Hockey Academy, Boys Hostel Lucknow, Naval Tata Academy Jamshedpur, Namdhari Academy and Hockey Himachal Academy.