K. ARUMUGAM

Institutions and Public Sector Units (PSUs) will vie for top honours at the 1st Hockey India Senior Women Inter-Departmental National Championship 2021 in Kolkata from October 23 to 31.

Nine teams including Indian Railways, without which Indian women’s hockey would not have survived so far, will vie for maiden honours.

Its always departments, both Central and State Government & semi-government and private sectors that were the backbone of Indian hockey, especially the women’s. However, slowly in the later 90s, teams like Air India withered, leaving the field for only the Indian Railways.

In the recent times, of course, Civil Services like Income Tax and para-military organizations like Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and even a Bank like Baroda Bank have started women’s hockey team, which is nothing but a revival of sort. Its twin benefit for the women’s hockey if the Departments start teams – permanent job and increase in the tournament opportunities.

However, it was observed tournaments were lacking on the Indian canvass. Teams wanted to be busy in the most part of the year, but were not getting right platform. Like happened with men’s domestic tournaments lost sheen.

Therefore, in the existing context, starting of a National Championship for women’s hockey comes as a god send.

That the tournament will be held in Kolkata is an interesting development. The metro was lacking in hockey activity other than the traditional Kolkata Hockey League and State Championships. That it hosts the inaugural women’s Inter-Departmental tournament may energise the city’s hockey, which it deserves for long.

Nine teams involving 180 players and coaching staff will converge on the eastern metropolis to participate in the annual event envisioned by Hockey India to maximize participation and develop the sport in states, union territories, institutional units and academies.

Sports Authority of India, Steel Plants Sports Board, UCO Bank Women’s Hockey Academy, Defence Accounts Sports Control Board, Railway Sports Promotion Board which are in Pool A.

Central Reserve Police Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Association of Indian Universities, Central Civil Services Cultural and Sports Board and Tamil Nadu Police comprise Pool B.

The league phase will last six days and will produce four semi-finalists who will battle for the a place in the final on October 30.

The final and the third-place playoff are slated for October 31.

The Organising Secretary of the tournament Istiyak Ali said: “It is a great initiative by Hockey India to introduce an exclusive annual tournament for Institutions and PSUs and we are delighted to be hosting the first edition of the tournament here in Kolkata. With the Indian men’s and women’s teams doing really well in the Olympics, there is a lot of interest for hockey and we are hopeful to inspire more youngsters from this region to take up the sport at a professional level.”

Ali stated that safety measures in the wake of the Covid pandemic will be implemented at the event. “Apart from Hockey India SOPs, we will be adhering to guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as the Government of West Bengal. We look forward to hosting a successful event,” he said

Besides SOPs stipulated by Hockey India, every player, coach, technical officials at the event
would need to submit a negative COVID RT-PCR test report on arrival at Kolkata with the test
taken within 48 hours prior to departure to Kolkata, West Bengal.

All players and officials also must have the Aarogya Setu app on their devices. They must also follow physical distancing measures at all locations, except athletes on the field. A Covid-19 task force will also be constituted by the organizing committee to ensure the implementation of the protocols issued by the MHA and the respective state government.

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