CHANDIGARH, DEC 15 :Encouraged with the recent performance of the Chandigarh Women Hockey Academy, a venture of the Chandigarh Administration, Chandigarh Sports Director Inderjit Singh Sandhu today announced that the Administration would introduce the All-India Women Hockey Tournament for Under-17 for the Administrator’s Cup.
Talking to the media persons here today, Sports Director-cum-Additional Deputy Commissioner IS Sandhu said "the inaugural Administrator’s Hockey Cup for Women would be organised from January 18 to 22. Ten to 12 top academy hockey teams from all over the country are expected to stake their claim for the top honours."
Praising the Hockey Academy team which won the All-India Mohinder Pratap Singh Grewal Women Hockey Tournament (Grade I) in Ludhiana last month, Sandhu disclosed that the Chandigarh Administrator Gen (Retd) RF Rodrigues was pleased with the achievement of the Hockey Academy girls within a short span of time. It was on the initiative of Gen Rodrigues that the women’s hockey academy was launched in September last year.
"The title-win will certainly inspire the hockey girls and they will think that they have a say in the society," said Sandhu and added " The achievement was made possible due to systematic training to excel. The credit goes to coaches –former Indian national hockey coach for men as well as women, Olympian Rajinder Singh, Manjit Kaur and physical trainer Sarabjit Singh."
The Chandigarh Administration is providing the best training facilities, infrastructure, board and lodging and good competition exposure. "Each trainee, selected on merit and several tests, is provided 2500-3500 calaries daily. Stress is on physical fitness. Studies are never neglected. Besides regular, special classes are also arranged for the trainees," said Sandhu.
The Sports Department would soon fill up nine vacant seats bringing the total number of trainees to 24 in the women’s hockey Academy. Out of the present 15, four belong to Chandigarh.
Rajinder Singh said that besides the glittering trophy, the CWH Academy also received a cash award of Rs 50,000 which was disbursed among the players and the officials.