First ever synthetic turf beckons Kerala

First ever synthetic turf beckons Kerala State. The hosts of the next years’ National Games, Kerala, will be having an international standard hockey stadium at Kollam in the Kollam Corporation Grounds.

This is a welcome step for a state that produced the likes of present day star-goalie PR Sreejesh and defender Dinesh Nayak (2000 Sydney Olympics). These youngsters have to migrate to other states in pursuit of better avenues to improve their hockey skills. One the shortcomings in those days was the State not having a turf.

The Kollam turf will thus be a music for ears of all aspiring hockey players of the State.

Kerala, one of the sports loving state, is home to the likes of PT Ushas, Valasammas, and Sreesanths, besides producing innumerable volleyball and football stars.

Hockey development from this perspective was short of the state’s potential, though administrators there in the past often hosted both men and women events including Nationals and Inter-Universities.

Accordingly to a press release from Kerala Hockey Association Secretary Bimaljit Dayanand, the provincial Government of Kerala in association with Kerala State Sports Council will execute the project

Vijayakumar, Hon’ble Minister for Sports, will lay the foundation Stone on 20th January.

Kerala Hockey Association is in celebration mode and it is reflected in its proposal to take out a rally on that day. In association with Kerala State Sports Council, National Games Secretariat, District Sports Council, Kerala Hockey Association will be organizing a mass rally in Kollam during the foundation laying ceremony.

KHA expects about 400 sports persons along with reputed dignitaries from the State will take part in the the proposed procession.

This turf will, to start with, help KHA to organize South Zone competitions, if not more.