Oil giant ONGC has earmarked Rs.50 crore for sports development, business magnet Naveen Jindal’s concern on hockey, and why Nehru clan not in a hockey tournament run after family scion’s name, are some of the interesting things that have come in for detailed discussion at the conventional press conference that the Nehru Hockey Tournament Society organized today in New Delhi.

The press meet was organized at the Nehru’s den, Chemsford Club, to mark the commencement of Nehru Junior Hockey tournament on first November at Gurgaon.

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Speaking on the occasion, Dr. N.K. Jit, Deputy General Manager, ONGC, elaborated the Sports Policy of his organization, by which outstanding sports persons are given high-level entry point. He further said, “We have 16 teams, and are in the process of forming shooting team as well. The main objective is to complement government efforts to improve nation’s sporting image. In hockey, we have recently appointed about six players of high caliber, and the results are also showing. In the ongoing Mumbai Super Division Hockey League, we have won all the six matches played so far”.

He sounded satisfaction on taking prize-catch Diwakar Ram in the team. The ace penalty corner expert is taken as E1 level officer on par with top cricketers. “I thank our management for the grand gesture to a sport that is not as glamour as cricket”, he said.

O.P. Bhatia, formerly of Sports Authority of India, spoke on behalf of Jindal Group where he has recently joined as Advisor. He said,” Our Managing Director Navin Jindal himself is a sportsman, having set a shooting record. He is very much concerned on hockey, more so, after we failed to qualify for the last Olympics. That’s why he came forward to be part of the Nehru Society. His commitment to the cause of the Society is long term. Jindal group of course is planning to put in place a series of academies for different sports, and hockey is of course there in our scheme of things”.

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Corporate Head of ATS Infrastructure Ltd, Bagga, who spoke on behalf of Company’s Managing Director Getamber Anand, mentioned sarcastically of course that this tournament is run after Jawaharlal Nehru, whose clan are top political family in the country, and their party is ruling. “I wonder why are they not here, taking part in the tournament process. If Rahul Gandhi (grand son of Nehru) is here and addressing the press, you mean this hall would be enough to hold?“

He made an earnest appeal to the media to take up hockey seriously and vigorously. “Media can make or mar”, he substantiated his views.

Nehru Society’s Secretary Commander Nandy Singh was happy this year’s girls section was held in Shahbad because “the township is hub of women hockey internationals and it is fitting we went there where the sport has a strong presence”.

The double-Olympic gold medalist wished more of its tournaments are held in muffisil areas where people throng to witness sporting meets.

Kukoo Walia, Tournament Organizing Secretary, welcomed the gathering.

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