Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hockey Tournament from August 8

Pune, Aug 1 (UNI) After a lapse of five years, big time hockey returns to the country's hockey cradle, Pune with 18 top teams vying for honours in the maiden Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar memorial 'Gold Cup' hockey tournament being hosted by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) which gets underway at their poli-grass stadium in Pimpri from August 8 to 12.

The prestigious tournament was scheduled to be held in May last but due to unavoidable circumstances, it could not be held. However, the PCMC headed by mayor Ms Mangala Kadam and the co-operation extended by civic chiefs helped the tournament see the light of the day.

Despite being an off-season for hockey, however, was compounded as the under 21 national hockey championship to be hosted by the Uttar Pradesh from August 5 has been postponed, which enables the invited teams to have their best teams in the fray.

PCMC Mayor addressing sports scribes here today said that in keeping with the policy of promoting sports, the civic body has deemed it fit to give a helping hand to boost the game of hockey.

Besides having produced a number of Olympians, namely late Babu Nimal, Joe Philips and lately the mercuurial Dahnraj Pillay and Vikram Pillay who have kept the Pune flag flying, would have more players like them in future, the mayor Ms Kadam pointed out.

The PCMC one of the richest civic body in the country has earmarked one per cent of their budget amounting to Rs one crore to be utilised for the promotion and proliferation of sports in the twin industrial township of Pimpri and Chinchwad every year.

Deputy mayor Mr Gautam Chabookeshwar who also present on the ocassion said some of the leading lights of the country will be assisting teams like Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, M E G Bangalore and Kolkata. Mumbai and hosts Maharashtra have fielded two teams each. The PCMC has eramarked a total budget of Rs ten lakh for the meet with the winners share being Rs 31,000 plus the trophy, while the runners-up and third placed teams will be presented a cash award of Rs 21,000 and 11,000 respectively. Besides, many attractive cash awards will be given away including the best player of the meet, Mr Chabookshwar elaborated.

The PCMC, which was the first body to have laid the first synthetic poli-grass surface in 1989 before Mumbai which re-laid a new synthetic 'poli-grass' surface at the stadium recently.

The former Indian hockey Federation (IHF) assistant secretary Victor Ellis who is also the vice-president of the Maharashtra Hockey Association (MHA) said that efforts were made to invite prominent teams like Indian Airlines, Punjab Sind Bank, ASC and Centre but since being an off-season, they refused the offer. As this is an annual feature, hopefully, all top teams in the country will be invited next year.

The MHA will also be hosting a qualifying tournament for the local outfits so that best four teams can be accomodated in the main draw from the next year, Mr Ellis added.

The organising secretary Ikram Khan who is also the joint secretary of the MHA said the IHF has extended recognition and the participating teams will be given the terms as per the rules laid down by the apex body. The draw will be announced on August 5 while six national umpires from Karnataka, Mumbai and Baroda will be supervising the tournament.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi and Maharashtra minister for water resource, water supply and sanitation Ajit Pawar, who is also the district guardian minister, will inaugurate the championship on August 8, the Mayor said.

The teams in fray are: Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashra A and B, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Mumbai Academy, Madhya Bharat, Hyderabad, MEG Bangalore, Uttar Pradesh, Kolkata, Kerala, Bhopal, Mumbai XI, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Indian Navy, Karnataka.

UNI IS KU SBA KN2233