Jalandhar: The stage is set for 39th edition of the IndianOil SERVO Surjit Hockey Tournament, which begins here today (Oct.27) at local Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, Burlton Park.
Tournament is organized every year by the Surjit Hockey Society, Jalandhar to keep the name of ex-Olympian late Sardar Surjit Singh Randhawa, former skipper of Indian Hockey Team alive, who lost his life in a fatal car accident near Jalandhar on January 7th, 1984, while fighting hard for up-liftment of the National Game of Hockey in our Country.
According to Jaspreet Singh, IAS, Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar, who is also the President of the Surjit Hockey Society that the 39th edition of the tournament would be played knockout -cum-league basis. Last Year's Champion Punjab Indian Railways, New Delhi, IndianOil, Mumbai, Punjab Police have placed in pool-’A’, while Last year’s runner up Punjab & Sind Bank, New Delhi. Punjab National Bank, New Delhi and Army-XI, Delhi have been kept in pool-’B’. Two teams will qualify from the knockout stage and these teams are TCRPF, Delhi, EME Jalandhar, BSF Jalandhar, Indian Navy Mumbai, Army (Green), Bengaluru, Indian Air Force, New Delhi, ASC Bengaluru, CAG New Delhi, RCF Kapurthala, and Corps of Signals.
As in the past 32 years, this year also, the Asia’s largest and leading Maharatna Oil Company IndianOil Corporation Limited will be the Main Title sponsor of the tournament. Ghakhal Bothers of USA will be the Co-Sponsor of the tournament.
Surinder Singh Bhapa, Secretary general of the Society said that the tournament committee is expected to attract Hockey followers in large number as this year also the spectators who come to witness the Hockey matches and the players/officials who will participate in this tournament will get Alto car, Motor Cycles, Refrigerator and LCDs as prize on the final day under slogan “Watch Surjit Hockey-Win Alto Car & attractive prizes”. These prizes shall be decided by draw of lot and every day each spectators will be issued a lucky coupons for 9 days where as the players/officials will be given lucky coupons on the day of the first match. The matches will be played under flood lights in the stadium and no gate entry money will be charged to the spectators who will come to witness the game of Hockey. All types of arrangements like boarding and lodging, Transport, security, medical etc. have been completed. No gate entry money will be charged from the spectators who will come to witness the game of hockey.
Ranbir Singh Tut, Hony. Secretary of the society informed that the arrangements have been made for the LIVE telecast of both the Semi Finals & Final Match of the tournament on PTC Channels on Nov. 3 and 4, respectively. All India Radio, Jalandhar will also relay the 'Ball-to-Ball' running commentary of the final match. There will a colorful cultural programme of the final day of the tournament where Famous Punjabi Folk Singer Kulwinder Billa will give his LIVE performance to entertain the spectators, before the start of the final match on Nov. 4 from 5.00 pm onwards. A full-fledged media centre has also been set up for the convenience of the print and electronic media, Tut added.
According to Lakhwinder Pal Singh Khaira, working president of the Society that Inderbir Singh Nijjar, Minister for Local Government, Punjab will inaugurate the tournament at 5.45 pm whereas Piyus Mittal, CGM (retail Sales), IndianOil alongwith local MLAs will be the Guest of Honour during the opening of the tournament. In the inaugural day, there will 5 matches namely Corps of Signals Vs. Indian Navy (11.00 AM), RCF Kapurthala Vs. ADC Jalandhar (12.45 PM), CAG Delhi Vs. EME, Jalandhar (2,30PM), Indian Air Force Vs. BSF Jalandhar (4.25 pm) and Army (Green) Vs. CRPF, Delhi (6.00 Pm)
.