Sports Minister visits Surjit hockey camp on its 100th day

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 7

Punjab Sports Minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi on Thursday visited Surjit Hockey Stadium where a hockey coaching camp is underway for the last 100 days.

He said he was impressed by the participation of more than 200 players in the camp, being conducted in the categories under the age group of 14 and 19 years. He lauded the efforts of Surjit Hockey Society members, who are providing fruits, soaked almonds, candies and even hockey sticks and sports kits to each player. He also mentioned the contribution of NRIs of Tutt Brothers and Gakhal Brothers of the US.

The Society organising international-level tournaments in memory of Olympian Surjit Singh for the last 37 years, helping poor and needy parents to get their children married as well as providing scholarships to needy players. Apart from this, the society also organises coaching camps for hockey-loving children every year, so that a ‘New Surjit’ can be discovered in them.

The Sports Minister also paid homage to Olympian Surjit Singh on his 37th death anniversary while highlighting the efforts made by him to raise the standard of living of hockey players. On January 7, 1984, the former captain of the Indian hockey team, Olympian Surjit Singh Randhawa, died in a car accident at Bidhipur village, near Jalandhar.

Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi said he had already floated tenders to set up four new AstroTurfs at Ferozepur, Marar (Gurdaspur), Surjit Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar and Dhudike (Moga) and four new AstroTurfs will be installed in the near future. The minister also announced that when the new AstroTurfs would be installed at Surjit Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar, the state government would organise a national-level hockey tournament at its own cost. Meanwhile, the Sports Minister also announced to set up 3 six-a-side AstroTurfs at the local Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, Lyallpur Khalsa College and Kukar Pind, respectively.

Secretary, Surjit Hockey Society, Iqbal Singh Sandhu thanked the minister for his visit. On the completion of 100 days of Surjit Hockey coaching camp, he announced to replace this ongoing hockey coaching camp into Surjit Hockey Coaching Centre.

Olympians Col Balbir Singh, Baljit Singh Dhillon, Harpreet Singh Mander, Sanjeev Kumar Dang, Rajinder Singh Nikku, Gurmel Singh Olympian and Golden Girl International player Rajbir Kaur and ADC (D) Vishesh Sarangal were also present.

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