Kusum Arora
Tribune News Service
The 26th Edition of the Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey Tournament would be held at the local Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, Burlton Park from November 7 to 13. The tournament would be played on league-cum-knock-out basis.
Last year champions Punjab and Sind Bank, Delhi and Runners Up, Javed Hockey Club, Gojra, Pakistan would be the main attraction at the tournament. All the teams have been directly seeded in to the league stage and divided into four pools. The team having highest points in their credit in each pool, will qualify for the semifinals scheduled for November 12.
Earlier the tournament was scheduled from October 23 to 30 but due to delay in laying of new Astroturf the tournament dates have been rescheduled from November 7 to 13. The annual tournament would be held under floodlights.
President of the Surjit Hockey Society cum Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar, Ajeet Singh Pannu said that the German Engineers who are laying the Astroturf have confirmed to complete their work before November 4. Pannu added that the Surjit Hockey Society has increased the prize money for the winning team as well.
“The winners would be given cash prize of Rs 2.5 Lakhs while the runners-up team would be awarded Rs 1.5 Lakhs. Apart from this the best player of the tournament would be awarded Rs 25,000. Even the best goalkeeper, best full back, best half back and best forward would also be awarded during the tournament”, added Pannu.
The other teams of the tournament include Air India Mumbai, Indian Oil Mumbai, Namdhari-XI Sirsa, BSF Jalandhar, RCF Kapurthala, Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai, Punjab Police, Jalandhar, EME Jalandhar, Punjab National Bank, Delhi, Corps of Signals, Jalandhar and Indian Air Force, Delhi.
The tournament would be inaugurated by Punjab minister for Local Bodies, Manoranjan Kalia while Deputy Chief Minister, Sukhbir Badal would give away prizes to the winning teams on the concluding day.