Punjab to promote club hockey

CHANDIGARH, JULY 15

Punjab is all set to become the first state in the country by launching ‘Hockey Clubs’ in six districts, where the budding players will be included in the clubs and they will vie for the title in the inter-club tournaments.

Disclosing this, Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister, Punjab said that the state government was committed to promote the national game in the state and decided to set-up six hockey clubs at Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Ghudda (Bathinda) and Ajitgarh (Mohali), where the astroturfs of international standards have already been installed. He said that after setting up clubs, the state government would provide free coaching, hostel and diet to the players, who would remain successful in trials.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that besides holding inter-club competitions special camp would also be conducted to prepare the outstanding, where they can play against the players of other countries to improve their game and experience. He said that Punjab Government would also engage the former hockey stars and Olympians for this purpose and to regain its glory in the game.

Mr. Badal, who is also holding the sports portfolio in Punjab Government and President of Punjab Hockey, said that Punjab contributed a lot in Indian hockey and presently there were maximum five players from Punjab in Indian hockey team for the 2012 London Olympic Games.