Sukhbir vows to restore Indian hockey’s pride

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has chalked out a long term plan to restore lost pride of Indian hockey in international arena and to again make Punjab a nursery for National hockey. Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, who is also the sports minister of the state and in London today visited hockey stadiums in London to have a look at modern infrastructure that could be provided to the hockey players in Punjab.

Accompanied by Mr. Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Finance Minister and Mr. Pargat Singh, MLA and Former Olympian, Mr. Badal said that he was hurt by the lackluster performance of Indian hockey team in London Olympics and has okayed Rs.418 crore plan to strengthen the sports infrastructure in the state besides for nurturing budding sports talent right from class 1 of the school. He said that we have to understand one thing that competition in every game has become very intense and players would have to move two steps ahead of every country to survive in the competition. Mr. Badal who is also president of Punjab hockey said that it was Punjab state that brought Olympics glory for the country and he was committed to restore Punjab’s old glory in the hockey.

Mr. Badal, who also met President, International Hockey Federation said that we would have to focus on speed, stamina and technical up-gradation of players to compete with European teams. Giving the details of long term plan, Mr. Badal said that we have already constructed seven hockey stadiums with world class Astroturfs’ and seven more would be added in next 3 years. He said that upcoming Mohali hockey stadium would be provided blue and pink Astroturf used for the London Olympics and he was committed to provide infrastructure facilities to the players for 2016 Rio Olympics.

Focusing on nurturing budding talent in hockey, Mr. Badal said that Surjit Hockey Society would provide residential facilities to 60 sub-junior players and Punjab government would provide support Surjit Hockey in this novel endeavor. Mr. P.S. Aujla, Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister and Mr. Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Special Principal Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister were also accompanying the Deputy Chief Minister.