10 teams in fray,BPCL to defend title: MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup

Chennai, Aug 30 (UNI) An important engagement in the calendar of the now suspended Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), the 64th MCC- Murugappa hockey tornament, which could not be held last year, will be played at the astro turf stadium here this year from September 4 to 14, with increased prize money.

Managing Director of Murugappa Group M A M Arunachalam and office bearers of the MCC announced at a press conference here last night that ten teams divided into two groups, Indian Oil Corporation(IOC), Karnataka XI, Mumbai XI, Indian Railways, Indian Overseas Bank(IOB), all in Group A, Air India, Army XI, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, (BPCL), Namdhari CI and Sports Hostel-Orissa in Group B will vie for honours BPCL are the defending champions.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the knock out semi finals.

The tournament, it may be recalled, could not be held last year due to non-availability of dates from senior Indian players, who had many international engagements till the Olympic qualifying tournament that set off a crisis situation in IHF.

The prize money for the winner has been increased to Rs 1.5 lakhs from Rs one lakh in 2006 when the tournament was last played. The runner up this year will take home a purse of Rs one lakh.

The final will be telecast live, the tournament director also announced.

UNI VV SJ MIR HT1642