41st Surjit Hockey tourney to begin today

The stage is set for the country’s 41st Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey Tournament that is set to start at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, Burlton Park, on October 19.

Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner, Dr Himanshu Aggarwal, who is also the president of the Surjit Hockey Society, said the tournament takes place every year and was named after the Olympian and former skipper of the Indian hockey team, Surjit Singh Randhawa, who lost his life in a tragic car accident near Jalandhar on January 7, 1984. He said like the previous 34 years, this year also ‘Indian Oil Corporation Limited’ would be the main title sponsor of the tournament and Gakhal Group of USA would be the co-sponsors.

According to Iqbal Singh Sandhu, CEO of the society, the 41st edition of the tournament would be played on a league and knockout basis. Former champions Indian Oil Mumbai, BSF, Jalandhar, and Indian Air Force New Delhi are in Pool A; Punjab Police, Bharat Petroleum Mumbai and CRPF, New Delhi are in Pool B; CAG New Delhi, Indian Railways New Delhi and RCF Kapurthala are in Pool C; and Army-XI Delhi, Punjab & Sind Bank, New Delhi and Indian Navy Mumbai have been placed in Pool D.

The general secretary of the society, Surinder Singh Bhapa, said the semifinal and final matches of the tournament would be held on October 25 and 26, respectively. He said the Jalandhar All India Radio would also relay ‘ball-to-ball’ commentary of the final game. He said there would be a cultural programme on the final day of the tournament where the Punjabi folk singer, Jasbir Jassi, would perform before the start of the final match on October 26 at 4.00 pm. He added a full-fledged media centre has been set up to facilitate print and electronic media.