Kanchan Vasdev

Tribune News Service

In a major boost for the revival of hockey in Punjab, Jarkhar hockey stadium would soon have its own astroturf with the Finance Minster, Manpreet Singh Badal announcing Rs 40 lakhs for purchasing the mat. Jarkhar village would become the fifth hockey ground in state and second village to have its own astroturf. The announcement was made on the unveiling function of statues of hockey stars including Pirthipal, popularly known as king of penalty corners and Surjit Singh Randhawa, an Arjuna awardee. State Finance Minister Manpreet Badal presided over the function.

Earlier Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Bhaini Sahib had astroturfs to train hockey players. The National Institute of Sports, Patiala already boasts of a synthetic mat but that is an initiative of Sports Authority of India. Promoters of hockey said that Rs 40 lakh would prove to be pivotal as it would be used to construct a base on which the synthetic mat would be laid shortly.

It is learnt that a ‘‘worn out ’’ mat has already been procured by Jarkhar hockey academy and it has already been laid on half of the ground for organising (six A side) matches. Within a few days the entire hockey ground with an astroturf would be in place.

The academy has also made arrangements for water sprinkling system on the mat. ‘‘We are planning to buy a super sobber to clean the synthetic mat.’’ said Jagroop Singh Jarkhar, an office bearer of Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Club, Jarkhar.

He added they had already spent Rs 80 lakhs for the hockey stadium since its inception four years ago. An office bearer on the condition of anonymity said their labour bore fruit today as Sansarpur in Jalandhar that has a history of hockey dating back to several decades and Kila Raipur, the venue of rural olympics that hosts hockey tournaments since 1933 are yet to be included in the illustrious list of having an exclusive astroturf.

The finance minister said the government is enhancing the sports budget by 40 per cent every year.

He said the government treated the sportpersons as ambassadors to different countries and were committed to provide them all kinds of facilities so that they would win maximum medals.