CHANDIGARH, Sept. 30 :Javed Hockey Club, Gojra, Crescent Hockey Club, Sialkot and Independent Hockey Club, Sargodha, all from Pakistan will be the star attraction in the IndianOil SERVO Surjit Silver Jubilee Hockey Tournament at the Olympian Surjit Astroturf Hockey Stadium, in Jalandhar from October 18 to 25.
According to Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Ajeet Singh Pannu, who is also the President of the Surjit Hockey Society, the tournament would be played on knockout-cum-league basis and matches would also be played under lights. There will be no entry fee.
The Asia’s largest and leading Oil company IndianOil Corporation Limited will be the main sponsor of the tournament while multinational gym company Gold’s Gym will be the co-sponsor for the tournament, Mr Pannu added.
According to organising secretary Iqbal Singh Sandhu, that the Pakistan teams have confirmed their participation. The teams have been recommended by the Pakistan Hockey Federation. They have been seeded directly into quarter final league stage.
Runners-up Indian Airlines, Delhi will now participate under the banner of Air India, Mumbai as Indian Airlines have merged into Air India. Top stars of both teams will exhibit their skills in one team under the banner of Air India, Mumbai. The other Indian teams include holders IndianOil Mumbai, Punjab & Sind Bank Delhi, Namdhari-XI Sirsa, Border Security Force Jalandhar, Air India Mumbai, Rail Coach factory Kapurthala, Bharat Petroleum Mumbai, Punjab Police Jalandhar & South Central Railways Secundrabad.
According to Mr. Jagjit Puri, Secretary General the Society will honour prominent personalities who have contributed to the promotion of sports, environment, culture, health services and in social activities.
A selection committee under the chairmanship of L.R. Nayyar, IRS, working President has been set up while Sukhwinder Pal Singh Murar PCS, Sarojini Sharda PCS, Lakhwinder Pal Singh Khaira PPS, Padamshree Pargat Singh and Col. Manmohan Singh will the members of the panel.
Manoranjan Kalia, Local Bodies Minister, Punjab will inagurate the tournament while Avinash Chander, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Punjab will preside over the function on October 18. Chief Minister, Punjab Parkash Singh Badal will the chief guest during the final match and will gave away the parizes on October 25. Punjab Sports Minister Gurlzar Singh Ranike will preside over the function.
Apart from this, Ranjit Singh Braham Pura, Reral Development & Panchayat mainister, Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Coopration Minister, Bikram Singh Majithia, Information & Public Relation Minister,Parminder Singh Dhindsa, PWD Minister, Hira Singh Gabria, Jail & Touroism Minister, Master Mohan Lal Transport Minister and Sucha Singh Langah, Agriculture Minister, Punjab have given their consent to be the chief guests during the tournament days.