Jalandhar, ——— The stage is set for the 40th Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey Tournament here at the local Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, Burlton Park from today (October 25).
Mr. Vishesh Sarangal, IAS, Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar who is also the President of Surjit Hockey Society said that this tournament is held every year to keep the name of the former captain of the Indian hockey team, former Olympian late Sardar Surjit Singh Randhawa alive who lost his life in a tragic car accident near Jalandhar on January 7, 1984, the tournament is organized by Surjit Hockey Society, Jalandhar.
Mr. Vishes Sarangal further informed that like last 32 years, this year also, Asia’s largest and leading Maharatana Oil Company ‘Indian Oil Corporation Limited’ will be the main title sponsor of the tournament while Gakhal Brothers of America will be the co-sponsor of the tournament.
According to Mr. Vishesh Sarangal, the 40th edition of the tournament will be played on a knockout-cum-league basis. The last year’s champions Indian Railways New Delhi, Army-XI Delhi and Punjab National Bank New Delhi have been placed in Pool-B while last year’s runners-up Indian Oil, Mumbai, former champions Punjab and Sind Bank New Delhi and the Indian Air Force Delhi team has been seeded in Pool-B. the 2 teams will qualify from the knockout stage from teams namely BSF Jalandhar, Punjab Police, Indian Navy Mumbai, CAG New Delhi and FCI New Delhi. The FCI New Delhi qualified from Surjit pre-qualifying round. The other teams in this round were CRPF, Delhi, Army (Green), Bangalore, RCF. Kapurthala, ITBP Chandigarh and CISF New Delhi. The clearance of the Pakistani teams by the Government is still awaited.
According to Mr. Iqbal Singh Sandhu, CEO of Society that the tournament committee is expecting a large number of hockey spectators this year. Under the slogan “Watch Surjit Hockey–Win ALTO Car”, this year also Surjit Hockey Society decided to award MARUTI ALTO Car along with other prizes like Refrigerators and LCDs 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 November 3, 2023 at the entry gate of the stadium while players will be issued the lucky coupons on the day of their first match. The lucky draw for the ALTO Cars and other prizes will be held on Nov. 3, 2023, soon after the final match, The matches will be played under flood lights in the stadium and the entry of spectators will be free. All arrangements for living, transport, security, medical etc. of the players and officials have been completed.
Ranbir Singh Tut, Secretary of the Society, said that the semi-final and final matches of the tournament will be held at PTC on November 3 and 4, respectively. Arrangements have been made for live telecasting on the channels. All India Radio, Jalandhar will also relay ‘ball-to-ball’ running commentary of the final match. There will be a colorful cultural program on the final day of the tournament where popular Punjabi folk singer Babbu Maan will entertain the audience before the final match starts at 4.00 pm on November 3. A full-fledged media center has also been established to facilitate print and electronic media, Mr. Tut added.
Mr. Lakhwinder Pal Singh Khaira, Working President of the tournament that the tournament will be inaugurated by Punjab Local Government Minister Balkar Singh at 5.45 pm while local MLAs including Mr. Piyush Mittal, CGM (Retail Sales), Indian Oil Will attend as a guest during the tournament. The opening match will be played between Indian Navy Mumbai and FCI New Delhi
** ** special note
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Surjit Hockey Society Jalandhar has appointed Kulbir Singh Saini (mobile number 98156-00810) as media in-charge of the tournament. He will be responsible for providing all kinds of information about tournament matches details and photos etc. to all print and electronic media. All such minute to minute information will also be available on our website www.surjithockey.com.