Ravi Dhaliwal

Nabha (Patiala), December 26

The 34th edition of the All India Liberals hockey tournament is all set to kick off at its traditional venue – the government Ripudaman college grounds – here tomorrow.

This edition of the prestigious tourney, which has been accorded Grade A by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), will be played in the memory of founder member and senior vice president of the organising committee Manmohan Dugala who passed away in September this year.

In the first match, North Eastern Railway (NER), Gorakhpur take on BEG, Pune while in the second match Centre of Excellence, Patiala square off against Dhudhike college, Jagraon.

Centre of Excellence is a SAI scheme being run at the NIS, Patiala and the team has several talented young players in its ranks. However, their disadvantage is that since they practise on astro-turf they will feel the pressure when they take on their rivals on grass where players have to bend their bodies more than they do on a synthetic surface to ensure control over the ball.

The Jagraon college team is a last minute replacement for the experienced Western Railway, Mumbai who are busy with a six-a-side tournament currently underway at Mumbai.

It is pertinent to mention here that for a long time the organisers have been urging successive state governments to sanction funds so that an astro-turf can be laid at the venue but to no avail. Many politicians, who come as chief guests, have repeatedly promised that they would look into the issue but once the tournament ends the subject gets consigned to the backburner.

Keeping in view the overall security scenario in the country, the Ministry of External affairs has not allowed any Pakistani team to play in the tournament. The organisers were expecting Ideal hockey club from Lahore but security considerations have ensured that no team from across the border takes part in the tournament.