CHANDIGARH, APRIL 14:Indian Hockey Federation president Kanwar Pal Singh Gill, accompanied by Mr SK Arora, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, Executive Director of Sports Authority of India PC Kashyap and Chandigarh Sports Director Inderjit Singh Sandhu, called on the Chandigarh Administrator and Punjab Government Gen (Retd) SF Rodrigues at Punjab Raj Bhawan here Describing this as a courtesy call, Mr Sandhu said that ‘setting up of a centre of excellence in hockey in Chandigarh was discussed." The Chandigarh Administration and the IHF had earlier signed a Memorandu of Understanding for setting up of the CoE.As Chandigarh would be laying another astroturf in Sector 42 for this centre, the Chandigarh Administration is requesting the Central Government to import at least two astroturfs for Chandigarh. "We are planning to lay six-a-side astroturfs in schools to provide more facilities at the grass root level to promote the national game," said Mr Sandhu.
Mr Arora assured to provide all possible assistance to the Chandigarh Administration for raising sports infrastructure.
The Chandigarh Hockey Academy, run by the Chandigarh Administration, has started producing results. Its first badge has recently passed out. Mr Sandhu informed that five to six players from CHA had found placement in Air India and the same number in Rail Coach Factory. Indian Oil Corporation has also provided jobs to five Chandigarh Hockey Academy players.
Meanwhile, the IHF and the Chandigarh Administration had signed MoU for initial 10 years was signed for setting up of the CoE with an objective of training, developing and churning out future national/international hockey players by providing them specialized coaching and scientific training facilities of a high quality.
The then Secretary Finance-cum-Sports SK Sandhu had signed the agreement on behalf of the Chandigarh Administration and General Secretary Jyothikumaran on behalf of the IHF. The MoU provides that the IHF would impart expert coaching and scientific training to the selected children at the CoE. The IHF will be responsible for identifying the players for the centre.
The aspects to be covered by the IHF are technical, tactical, physical and physiological. The Centre will have modern sports science facilities namely physical fitness, mental fitness, bio mechanics, nutrition, video analysis and sports medicine facilities The CoE well have qualified and experienced coaching staff, synthetic hockey fields, Hi Tech Gymnasium, video analysis system, video camera, video analysis software, video projection system, lap top computer, television, visiting sports psychologist, dietitian, sports medicine doctors on regular basis.
The Chandigarh Administration would lay additional artificial hockey field with flood lights and also adequate board and lodging facilities. The IHF will depute a foreign coach and one foreign physical trainer along with two Indian assistant coaches for six months in a year and other coaching staff. Australian hockey wizard Ric Charlesworth, IHF Technical Adviser, has already imported training to the Chandigarh Hockey Academy trainees, including girls, for more than five hours.