A total of 17 teams will vie for top honours for the winner’s trophy in the 43 rd SN Vohra’s All India Gurmit Memorial Hockey Tournament organised by Rock Rovers Club to be played at Sector 42 Sports Complex from September 23 to September 30. The championship was earlier scheduled to start from September 22 but the tournament was postponed for a day.

“We are excited to get a good response from the teams as 17 outfits have confirmed their entries for the championship. It’s the 43rd edition of the championship and the tournament is one of the prestigious tournament in the region. This year, we have two new teams namely WC Defence Audit and SGGS Club and we are expecting a touch competition,” shared YP Vohra while addressing mediapersons in Chandigarh, organising secretary of the championship. The participating teams in the championship are ONGC, PNB, Punjab and Sindh bank, Namdhari XI, Punjab Police, CRPF, Northern Railways, RCF, Corps of Signals, EME, IAF, PSPCL, ITBP, WC Defence Audit, Ropar Hawks, SGGS Club and Chandigarh XI. The teams have been divided into four pools and last years winners and runners-up teams PNB and ONGC respectively has been seeded directly into the quarter-finals along with PSB and RCF and EME, CRPF, Namdhari XI and Signals have been given bye in the pre-quarterfinals. “The winning team will be given a cash prize of Rs 75,000 and the runners-up team will be given a cash prize of Rs 50,000. There will be also cash awards for four outstanding players of the tournament, best goal-keeper, best full-back, best half-back and best forward. Late Dr. BL Gupta Trophy will also be given for the fair play award,” said SN Vohra, one of the organisers.

Three-time Olympic gold medallist in hockey, Padma Shri Balbir Singh Senior was also present during the press conference. “I am delighted with the efforts of the organisers. It’s a good effort to spot talents in the region and the tournament has always seen the participation of some of India’s best hockey teams. I wish luck to the emerging players of the region,” said Singh.

The opening day will see two matches where ITBP will face PSPCL while Ropar Hawks will face Defence Audit.