Chandigarh: Jul 13: Air Force Inter Command Hockey Championship begin at Sector -42 Hockey Stadium today. Air Cmde S C Luthra AOC,3BRD inaugurated the championship. In the opening match played between Maintenance Command and Air HQ ,in which MC deafened Air HQ by 12 goals to 1. Sgt Rajinder scored six goals in which first three goals were hattrick scored on 8th, 11 th and 17 th min of first half , other scorer were Kushur and Sgt D Chandra, two goals each and Sgt Kaushik and Cpl Thalwal one goal each . The only goal scored in favour of Air HQ was by Lac Raminder.Total 07 teams are participating in the championship. Central Air Command (CAC), South Western Air Command (SWAC), Maintenance Command (MC), Training Command (TC), Eastern Air Command (EAC), Air HQ and last year’s winners-up WAC will be playing for the title.
Championship will be played on league cum knockout basis. Pool “A” will be consisting WAC, TC, MC and Air HQ and in Pool “B” – CAC, SWAC, and EAC. Aim of Championship is to select Air Force team for forthcoming Inter Services Hockey Championship which will be also organized by 3 BRD AF from 03 Aug to 06 Aug this year.
While addressing the participants Air Cmde Luthra said the infrastructure, the facilities, the opportunities for Hockey as a game are best provided the players of Air Force. Shortly they shall be having own poly grass turf at 3 BRD. Whole hearted efforts should be put in this game to prove your mettle.
He also said that the championship to be conducted as per the rules and regulations of the game govern by Federation of International Hockey (FIH) and in true sportsman spirit.
He also mentioned, it was in the year 1976 when the revolution was brought about in Hockey when synthetic surface replaced natural grass for playing all national/international tournaments. It not only made the game of hockey more graceful and attractive but also helped in –reducing infringement and injuries, proved to be a better and quality surface to play upon, it helped in increasing the reach of players and finally helped in improving the skills and talent of budding players. Considering the benefits and with an endeavour of providing better infrastructure and state of art technology to the players, for the first time in the history of IAF. Provisioning and laying of Global category poly grass worth Rs. 4,37,22,000/- was sanctioned at 3 BRD, AF and it is worth mentioning that the same will be completed very shortly and will be utilized for training and conducting domestic, national/International Championship. The ground is now awaited for an FIH approval to start with.
On 14 July two matches will be played, WAC vs TC at 0800 hrs. and CAC vs SWAC at 1000 hrs. on 15 July three matches MC vs TC at 0800 hrs, WAC vs Air HQ at 1000 hrs and CAC vs EAC at 1200 hrs. On 16 July three matches TC vs Air HQ at 0800 hrs, MC vs WAC at 1000 hrs, SWAC vs EAC at 1200 hrs. On 17 July one match will be played at 0800 hrs 4th in pool A vs 3rd in pool B. 18 july 09 three matches 1st semi final at 0800 hrs, 2nd semi final at 1000 hrs and 5th position match at 1200 hrs. On 19 July 3rd position 0800 hrs and final will be played at 1600 hrs.