SAI shortlists 6 Augustine hockey players for training under DBS

The under-16 players will be given free training besides stipend by the authority

Six hockey players from Nerul-based St Augustines School have been selected under Sports Authority of Indias (SAI) Day Boarding Scheme (DBS) wherein they will undergo hockey training at the SAI centre currently being run in the school itself. School students Suraj Dubey, Varinder Singh, Prasad Magre, Naresh Choudhary, Ashutosh Sahoo and Pruthvi Pawar have been selected in the under-16 age group.

Earlier, seven students from the school were selected under the similar scheme. “We will club both the newly-selected and old players together to form strong team. Besides, we will also make these players to play with other school students so that even others learn by watching their game,” stated school coach Sunil Poojari.

The players adopted by SAI under this scheme are being provided free training, kit, gear, monthly stipend and travelling allowance for various tournaments. Currently, 13 players from the school are being trained under the scheme that started in the school around a year ago. “We want hockey to flourish even more, for which our school is also encouraging maximum students to participate in the sport. As a result, we ensure that our maximum students are enrolled in the scheme so that even parents burden is reduced and students are benefited from the government facilities,” Poojari added.

Along with selected players, over 150 school students regularly practice the sport in the school for four hours under the tutelage of the coach Geeta M. “The addition of new players under DBS has definitely strengthened our team. Compared to last year, the team is experienced this year and has also improved their game therefore we are expecting much better results this season,” stated Geeta M. When asked about training such a huge number at same time on the ground, Geeta added, “We divide the students in groups as per their age and while one group is trained for technicalities others practice physical fitness and vice versa. This way all the players receive due conditioning.”