Rs.20 lac Prize Money tournament in Bangalore

It’s not all bad news for Indian hockey. Here is a heart-warming good news, and this is a highest prize money domestic tournament which is on the anvil in Bangalore.

Recently Madhya Pradesh Government set the tune for revival of hockey in Bhopal where Obaidullah Cup was held amidst much fanfare, monies were spent on players like never before.

Now comes the news of the Government of Karnataka picking up the thread, and even poised to do better. The Chief Minister Cup will be held in Bangalore from 12th to 20th June, with record prize and participation monies in order.

The Karnataka government will be inaugurating the newly laid synthetic hockey surface at the Hockey Stadium, Bangalore with putting in place the Chief Minister Cup.

The Hockey lovers of Bangalore will thus have an opportunity to see the best players of the country exhibit their skills on the newly laid surface.

Last time the city that produced unending stream of player for the country hosted a hockey tournament was when a software major organized an All India tournament twice in the early 2000s.

To organize the new gala event, an organizing Committee has been constituted by the Government of Karnataka. Gulihatti D. Shekar, Hon’ble Minister for Textiles Youth Services and Sports is its Chairman, members include I.M.Vittala Murthy, Secretary, Youth Services & Sports(Vice Chairman); Shivananjaiah Director, Youth Services & Sports; Dr. G.Kishore, Director, S.A.I.; R.K.Shetty; Sri.K.Krishnamurthy; Ashish Ballal, Olympian; A.B.Subbaiah, Olympian; and Dr.M.P.Ganesh, Olympian.

This Committee met on 3rd May, 2010 and invited the top eight teams of the country to play this great tournament. These teams are B.P.C.L.; Army XI; Indian Railways, Orissa star, Indian Oil, Air India, and DYSS-Karnataka.

The highlight of the event is the prize money bonanza. The winners will talk away with a cash prize of Rs.6,00,000 while Runner ups will get Rs.4,00,000, and Rs.2,00,000 for 3rd Place and Rs.1,00,000 for 4th place. In addition to the above, each team will be paid an appearance money of Rs.1,25,000.

For the first time in Bangalore, All India Invitation Hockey Matches will be telecast live by Doordarshan and to facilitate the same, the up gradation of the floodlights available is also made. At present the floodlight is having 400 lux which is being upgraded to 1200 lux, so that the matches can be telecast live.

About 50 probables have been called for the Coaching Camp from all over Karnataka and the Camp started on 26th May, 2010. The team is being prepared under the leadership of Ashish Ballal, Olympian and Head Coach. He is being assisted by a couple of young upcoming coaches.

The selection committee to select the team of DYSS-Karnataka are includes R.K.Shetty, K.Krishnamurthy, A.B.Subbaiah, C.S.Poonachcha, and Ashish Ballal.

The Minister Gulihatti D Shekar, is planning to host All India Invitation Tournaments under the banner of Government of Karnataka, in other Sports Disciplines also in the coming months.