Challenge Cup hockey tourney from today

Chandigarh: Chandigarh Hockey Academy will be pitted against Hyderabad Hock ey Academy in a group B fixture during the inaugural Administrator’s Challenge Cup Hockey Tournament for U-17 boys on Thursday at 3.45 pm at Sector 42 Hockey Stadium.

Punjab governor and UT administrator SF Rodrigues will be the chief guest on the occasion and inaugurate the tournament.

In other matches scheduled for the day, Surjit Hockey Academy, Jalandhar, will clash with Hockey Academy, Gurgaon, at 5.15 pm, and Punjab National Bank Hockey Academy, Delhi, will challenge Sector 42 Sports Coaching Centre. The two matches will be played under lights.

The league-cum-knockout tournament to be played under the rules and regulations of the Indian Hockey Confederation will carry cash awards of Rs 50,000 for the winners and Rs 25,000 for runners-up.

Teams have been divided as follows: Pool A: Surjit Academy, Jalandhar, Hockey Academy, Gurgaon, Sukhchain Hockey Academy, Faridkot, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey Academy, Amritsar. Pool B: Chandigarh Hockey Academy, Hyderabad Hockey Academy, Cheema Hockey Academy, Batala, Kurukshetra SAI Academy. Pool C: PNB Hockey Academy, Delhi, Chandigarh Sports Department Coaching Centre, Punjab and Sindh Bank Academy, Jalandhar, Mehta Gurukul Hockey Academy, Doraha. Pool D: Rail Coach Factory, Kurukshetra, Hockey Academy, Lucknow, Amritsar XI.