A fair start to hockey tournament

LUDHIANA: Taking a bold stand against female foeticide, a group of nine men dressed as women and performed ‘giddha’ ‘ a Punjabi folk dance done by girls ‘ at the inauguration of All India Sahibzada Ajit Singh Hockey Champion Trophy here on Wednesday. Troupe leader Zorawar Singh, a teacher at Government Elementary School in Riya told TOI, ”If the evil of female foeticide continues, naturally the charm and essence of our culture along with traditional dances like ‘giddha’ would vanish as the number of women lessens in society.”

The Sports Council of Ludhiana has organized the six-day hockey tournament to improve the condition of the national game and make it more popular among Ludhianvi youth. The championship is being played at Olympian Pithipal Singh Astroturf in PAU between March 9 and 14.

Hockey Olympian and Arjuna awardee S Surinder Singh Sodhi inaugurated the event. Eight teams from men’s category and four from women’s category would be competing each other for a prize money of Rs 4.25 lakh.

In the first match of the day, PNB defeated Chandigarh XI by 3-2. Navdeep Singh of PNB scored a field goal in the seventh minute of the match. Gurjant Singh of Chandigarh XI equalled the score with a field goal in the 25th minute and later Gagandeep Singh of Chandigarh XI made the score 2-1 in the 31st minute. In the second match, ONGC defeated Delhi XI by 4-1. Vikas Topo of ONGC scored first goal of the match in the 18th minute of the match.

All India Sahibzada Ajit Singh Hockey Champion Trophy would be played in league-cum-knockout basis and the winner of men’s category would be awarded Rs 2 lakh, while the first runner up team will be given Rs 1 lakh as prize money.

While talking to TOI, former Olympian from Ludhiana who has played 200 international hockey matches Hardeep Singh Grewal said, ”At the local level at least two Astroturf should be made in Ludhiana for the city’s aspiring hockey players.” Similarly, another Olympian who was also national coach for Indian team from 2000-04, Rajinder Singh said, ”In order to generate promising hockey champions from the city it is essential to develop its basic foundation at school level, which is being neglected by schools these days.”