PAU’s AstroTurf stadium re-opens for use

The Punjab Agricultural University’s Olympian Prithipal Singh Hockey Stadium was reopened for use on Wednesday. The stadium was closed in the month of January for replacing AstroTurf. The previous turf, installed in 1999 and last replaced in 2011 had become uneven and was in urgent need of repairs. During the upgrade, players’ training sessions were temporarily shifted to the Malwa Khalsa School ground.

The upgraded facility, costing about Rs 3 crore features a blue high-quality turf from Syncotts International, using the Greenfield Holland surface. The new turf is expected to significantly enhance playing conditions and attract more young people to the sport.

Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal, former Indian hockey player and ADCP, Ludhiana III, was the chief guest at the opening ceremony. He cut the ribbon to mark the reopening of the AstroTurf stadium.

Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), was the guest of honour on the occasion, while Dr Nirmal Singh Jaura, Director, Students Welfare, Olympian Hardeep Singh Grewal, Baldev Singh, Dronacharya awardee, Kuldeep Chugh, District Sports Officer, along with officer-bearers of Hockey Ludhiana, including Ajay Pal Singh Punia and TS Bhalla, also attended the function.

Hockey players, coaches and enthusiasts were thrilled as the stadium was reopened. Hardeep Singh Grewal, former Olympian and president of Hockey Ludhiana, expressed excitement over the new AstroTurf facility on the university campus. “The upgraded facility will significantly benefit young players, allowing them to develop their skills and style on a high-quality surface,” he said.

Grewal emphasised on the importance of young players training on AstroTurf and expected to attract more young people to the sport and provide a world-class training environment. This world-class training facility for hockey players would definitely promote the sport’s popularity and competitiveness in the region, he added.

The hockey fraternity is enthusiastic about the new development, viewing it as a major step forward in nurturing young talent, said Ajay Pal Singh, secretary, Hockey Ludhiana.

TS Bhalla, organising secretary of the district hockey association, said with the new AstroTurf, the hockey activities were expected to be in full swing again.

After the formal reopening of the stadium, an exhibition match was played to mark the occasion.