Hefty prize money increase on the anvil for next year’s Obaiduallah Cup

Hitherto unexpected and unheard of prize money is on the anvil for the next year’s Obaidullah Khan Gold Cup.

Next year onwards the winners of the traditional tournament will get Rs.51 lakh, the runners up Rs.21 lakh, third ranked team Rs.15 lakh and the fourth Rs.11 lakhs.

Speaking on the occasion of closing ceremony of this year’s edition, Shivaji Rao Chauhan, chief minister of Madhya Pradesh — who have revived the abandoned tournament — announced the new prize money scheme, which is path breaking insofar as Domestic tournaments are concerned.

The prize money announced for next year are more than double of present levels.

For instance, this year winners Air India received a purse of Rs.21 lakh today, and if they will s next year, they will have added another Rs.30 lakhs!

Madhya Pradesh has been taking lead in sports promotion, and it has established series of academies to boost up its sporting performance. Hockey men has got one in Bhopal, while women in Gwalior.

A new turf has been laid with hostel and floodlight facilities for the inmates.

The Chief Minister expressed his desire to make Bhopal as the Mecca of Indian hockey.