Hockey activity is all set to resume in the city when the Madras Cricket Club-Murugappa Gold Cup tournament gets underway at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium on September 3. The final is scheduled for September 14.

The ten teams in the fray will be divided into two groups of five each with the top two in each section moving into the semifinals.

The winner will get an enhanced prize money of Rs. 1,50,000, and the runner-up Rs. 100,000.
Arun Murugappan, Managing Director, Parry Enterprises India Ltd. in the Murugappa Group, addressing the media on Friday at the Madras Cricket Club, regretted the inability to conduct the event last year owing to circumstances beyond the control of the organising unit. However, he hoped the competition this time would be keen and hold the interest of the spectators.
Mr. Shakeel Ahmed, former International Grade I umpire, will be the Technical Director, assisted by T. Nicolas (Tournament Officer) and Muhammad Munir (Umpires Manager).

Some of the matches will be played under floodlights, and the final is to be telecast live by DD (Sports).

While welcoming the gathering, Mr. A. Manickavasagam, President, Madras Cricket Club, pinpointed the promotional role played by the Club where “sport is a way of life.”

On Wednesday, the traditional opening match between MCC and The Hindu XI will be played at 6 p.m.
BPCL, the defending champion, begins its campaign against Air India on September 5.

The pools: A: IOC, Karnataka XI, Mumbai XI, Indian Railways, and Indian Overseas Bank (city league champion): B: Air India, Army XI, BPCL, Namdhari XI and Sports Hostel, Orissa.