*Declares 5th Sub Jr National Hockey Championship open
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, May 6: Minister for Sports, Imran Raza Ansari declared the 5th Sub Junior National Hockey Championship-2015 open in an impressive, colourful and well attended function at KK Hakhu Astroturf Stadium, here today.
The Minister was accompanied by Working president Hockey J&K, S M Sahai, ADGP Armed and Director General Youth Services and Sports, Navin Agarwal.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister while describing Hockey Wizard Dhyan Chand as the magician on the field and his period as the golden period of Indian Hockey, said that the time was ripe to help legendary Dhyan Chand’s game flourish at the time when there is euphoria of cricket world over, adding that hockey has given much more to the country than many other games.
The Minister lavished praise on the organizers, especially Mr Sahai for making all out efforts in smooth and successful conduct of this sporting extravaganza and said that such events apart from promoting sports and games also serve as a launching pads to bring peace and harmony to the State through the messengers of peace ‘sportspersons’.
He also appreciated the role of J&K State Sports Council headed by Navin Agarwal in providing infrastructural and allied facilities for success of the tournament.
Mr Ansari threw light on the historical background of the game of hockey in India.
Referring to ‘Mata Vaishno Devi’, the Minister said that the visiting players and officials have a great opportunity to visit the beautiful places in Jammu and enjoy street sense of the City, adding that the organizers will leave no stone unturned in helping them to visit tourist places.
The Minister said that new Astroturfs will be established in Jammu and Srinagar, with Astroturf at KK Hakhu Stadium to be shifted to Poonch.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Mr Sahai gave detail of the tournament, while welcoming the visiting contingents.
He said every effort has been made to provide all kinds of facilities to the visiting teams with regard to their boarding and lodging, transportation and other things, adding that various committees have been framed to conduct the championship in a befitting manner.
A beautiful cultural item choreographed by Dr Balwant Thakur was presented by the students of Presentation Convent on the occasion.
Prominent among others present on the occasion were vice president hockey J&K, Mukesh Singh; IGP Jammu, Danesh Rana; Rajesh Kumar, IGP, Director SKPA; Former ADGP SS Wazir; Member BCCI and J&K State Sports Council, Ranjeet Kalra; DIG Jammu, Shakeel Beig; Mr Kuku, treasurer Hockey India; Romal Singh and GS Bakshi.
Earlier, the day began on a winning note for Assam Hockey as they went on to defeat Hockey Bhopal 3-1. In the second clash between Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association and Goans Hockey, Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association blanked the opponents with a massive score of 18-0. This was followed by Hockey Rajasthan pulling down Kerala Hockey by 9-0. The day concluded with a wonderful victory for Hockey Puducherry who outplayed Hockey Madhya Pradesh by 6-1.
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