Mumbai varsity to organise inter-University hockey meet in January

The All-India Inter-University Hockey Tournament for men will be held from January 10-16, 2011 in Mumbai. Bombay University is organising the event, featuring 16 zonal qualifiers from West, East, South and North zones. Mithibai Motiram Kundnani College, Bandra is hosting the tournament as part of 50th anniversary celebrations and will be sponsored by Ink Infrastructure.

Mumbai University Director of Physical Education, Dr U N Kendre, speaking at a media briefing, informed that league-cum-knockout format will be followed, two college teams from four groups in the league phase qualifying for the knockout stage. Matches will be played at four venues – University Sports Pavilion, St Andrews School ground, G N Khalsa College ground and Mahindra Stadium, the last named stadium will host a few leagues and all knockout games.

MMK College principal, Dr A C Vanjani, spoke about the college management decision to conduct the All-India Inter-University Hockey as part of the jubilee celebrations, along with the West Zone Inter-University from January 3-9 to identify four colleges qualifying from the zone. MMK will provide accommodation, food, transport facilities to all participants for both events, said the principal and added that Olympian and ex-India hockey captain, Viren Rasquinha, is an alumni of MMK.

MMK College Director of Physical Education, V Sakhtivel, talked about Rasquinha’s excellence in academics and inspiration for starting a hockey team. “Viren topped his class in studies and it was during his time that MMK decided to build a hockey team for the inter-collegiate tournaments.” Vanjani spoke about the importance of sport as extra-curricular activity in colleges. “Doing well in studies is necessary, equally critical is taking part in sports activity for holistic development of college students.”