JALANDHAR, OCT 7 : The Indian Embassy in Islamabad (Pakistan) is reported to have granted visa to the Pakistani women’s team to take part in the 30th IndianOil Surjit Hockey Tournament to be played from October 9 to 18 at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Burlton Park here today.
According to Sub Divisional Magistrate, Jalandhar-I, Mr. Iqbal Singh Sandhu, who is the hony. organizing secretary two Pakistani teams namely, Punjab-XI (Men & Women) Lahore have confirmed their participation in the tournament. Apart from the Pak men team, there will be three-matches Test Series between Punjab-XI- (Pakistan) and Punjab-XI-(India) Women teams will be organised during the tournament days.
As many as 16 teams including holders IndianOil, Mumbai and runners up Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai will take part in hockey bonanza. The other 14 top Indian teams Punjab & Sind Bank Delhi, Border Security Force (BSF), Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai, Punjab National Bank, Delhi, Oil & Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), Delhi, Cops of Signal, Army-XI, Mumbai-XI, Indian Air Force, Delhi, Indian Navy, Mumbai, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, Punjab Police, Indian Overseas Bank, Bangaluru and Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL), Patiala which will take part to exhibit their skills
This year total cash prize money has been enhanced from Rs. 6.25 lakh to Rs. 7.75 lakh. Now, the winners’ team will get cash prize of Rs. 5.00 lakh instead of Rs. 3.50 lakh whereas the runners-up team will be pocketed Rs. 2.50 lakh.
Under the “Watch Surjit Hockey-Win ALTO Car-Listen Daljit Dosanjh” slogan, this year Surjit Hockey Society has also decided to award ALTO Car, Motor Cycles, Refrigerators etc. to the spectators, who will come to witness the surjit hockey matches. The main idea is to attract & to create more interest amongst the general public for our national game of Hockey. The spectators will get daily lucky coupons till Oct. 18 at the entry gate of the stadium while players will be issued the lucky coupons on the day of their first match.