Former Olympian inspires budding players at Phillaur

Tribune News Service

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Jalandhar, July 3

Budding hockey players from villages will soon get a chance to play on AstroTurf. Newly appointed chief hockey coach Punjab Olympian Rajinder Singh on Saturday visited the hockey academy at Lasara village in Phillaur tehsil of the district to promote the game in villages.

Olympian and Dronacharya Awardee Rajinder Singh (Junior), Chief Coach Hockey, Punjab, after visiting Lasara Hockey Academy today stated that a large number of budding players under-16 age group, playing in the field of Lasara Hockey Academy is a sign of the golden future of hockey in Punjab. The support of their parents was also commendable.

Addressing the players, the Olympian said, “Villages like Lasara, Tehing, Atta, Roorkee, Nagar, etc. in Phillaur tehsil have been famous for the game of hockey but due to the lack of opportunity to play on AstroTurfs and to play against experienced teams keeps the on the back foot. Therefore, after the installation of new AstroTurf in Jalandhar, the players of these villages will be invited in Surjit Hockey Academy here and the Sports Department of Punjab would give them a chance to play with renowned teams on the artificial turf”.

He also appealed to the players and parents to work together for the betterment of hockey in the village and keep the game of hockey away from politics. Iqbal Singh Sandhu, secretary, Surjit Hockey Society; Gurmeet Singh, Davinder Singh (coach) and Dr Shivinder Singh Aujla were also present.