KSHA SUPER DIVISION LEAGUE

Bangalore: The hockey spectacle in the state is only a step away from hitting the premium mode as the first phase of the Karnataka State Hockey Association (KSHA) Super Division league commences at the Sports Authority of India (SAI), South Centre, in the outskirts of the city on Wednesday.

Despite the uncertainty hovering around the venue for the concluding phase of the league, the action in the initial phase will be no less entertaining, with six teams vying for the two spots up for grabs in the ten-team second stage.

Though regular participants Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Indian Air Force have pulled out of the event citing different reasons, the first stage promises exciting contests with Karnataka State Police (KSP), Madras Engineer Group and Centre (MEG), Central Excise and SAI along with newly-promoted sides Pioneer Corps Training Centre (PCTC) and Centre of Excellence (CoE) sweating it out to join the elite group boasting formidable sides like IOCL and BPCL.

It will be an interesting battle between experience and youth as the likes of MEG and KSP lock horns with younger lads from SAI and CoE.

There is no dearth of talent in the SAI ranks as nine boys from Bangalore hostel were part of the South Zone team which won the all-India inter-SAI title recently but the youngsters have to prove their mettle in a more competitive field. Meanwhile, CoE will be the surprise package having triumphed in the State ‘A’ Division league and the boys will be raring to go at their backyard in the Kengeri campus.

The long journey to the venue on match days certainly will be taxing for most of the teams.

But the relatively new synthetic turf, which can enhance the tempo of the game, awaiting them will be an inspirational factor.

The nine-day first phase, played on round-robin format, will conclude on September 25 as two matches are slated on each day with Sunday being the rest day. The second phase will start two days later and the event concludes on October 12.

Today’s matches: KSP vs PCTC, 1.30 pm; Central vs CoE, 3.15 pm.