Civic body’s 21,000 sq mt facility at Chikalwadi by November

The city will have a spanking new hockey stadium at Chikalwadi, off the Aundh-Khadki Road, the cradle of hockey training in Pune.

Most of Punes hockey stars, including Olympians Baburao Nimal, Joseph Phillips, Vikram Pillay and former India captain Dhanraj Pillay, are from Khadki area. Almost 90% of the citys hockey teams are still groomed in Khadki.

A ground for hockey practice has been a long-cherished dream of many players.
Spread over 21,200 square meters, the yet to-be-named hockey ground and stadium will have a seating capacity of 1,000, a landscaped area, a canteen, changing room, office and a store room. However, the stadium being built by the Pune Municipal Corporation, does not have adequate parking space.

“We want to complete the work in three months. The first match would be played here in November,” said junior engineer Dilip Pawara.

The stadium will come up on survey number 65/A/1/2 and 64/C/1/2.

“The civic body has earmarked funds in its annual budget for the stadium to promote hockey,” Pawara said.

Junior engineer Ravindra Padale said that the stadium would cost Rs1.25 crore.

The playing area has been layered with red murrum so that the ground can be used even in rain. “The ground has a good drainage system to allow water to flow off the field,” Padale said.

Three local teams Rovers Sports Academy, Railway Police and Super XI are happy with the development.

“The game will get a facelift from the grassroot level,” said Rovers Sports Academy secretary Firoz Shaikh.

“Mata Ramabai Ambedkar School has started training its students for hockey. The stadium will boost the morale of enthusiasts,” said local resident Vicky Lokhande.

Maharashtra Hockey Association official (MHA) Ranveer Bhatti, a well-known hockey player from Khadki, said, “Even though the ground does not fulfill international standards, it would benefit school children.”