Three Pakistan teams to play in Indian Oil Servo Surjit hockey

Press Trust Of India

Jalandhar, October 02, 2008

Three Pakistani teams will be the main attraction in the Indian Oil Servo Surjit Silver Jubilee hockey tournament, scheduled to be held here at the Surjit Astro-turf hockey stadium from October 18 to 25.

Oganising secretary of tournament, Iqbal Singh Sandhu informed three Pakistan teams namely Javed Hockey Club, Gojra; Crescent Hockey Club, Sialkot and Independent Hockey Club, Sargodha have confirmed their participation and will play directly from quarter-final stage.

All the three Pakistani teams have been recommended by the Pakistan Hockey Federation, he said.

The Deputy Commissioner, Ajeet Singh Pannu, who is also the President of the Surjit Hockey Society, said the tournament is organised every year by the Society in memory of Olympian Sardar Surjit Singh Randhawa, who lost his life in a fatal car accident near Jalandhar in 1984.

The silver jubilee edition of the tournament would be played on knockout-cum-league basis. All the matches of the tournament will be played under flood lights and entry of the spectators will be free of cost.

Last year’s runners-up Indian Air lines, Delhi will now participate under the banner of Air India, Mumbai as Indian Air Lines have merged with Air India, Sandhu said.

The other Indian teams, include last year’s champion Indian Oil, Mumbai; Punjab and Sind Bank, Delhi; Namdhari XI, Sirsa; Border Security Force, Jalandhar; Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala and Bharat Petroleum, he added.