National inter-varsity hockey in BHU from tomorrow

Varanasi, Jan 8 (UNI) Sixteen teams will slug out in the All India Inter University Hockey tournament starting on the Amphitheatre grounds of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) here tomorrow.

BHU officials informed today that four teams each from West, North, East and South zones will participate in the tourney, where the Combined University team for next national hockey championship will be selected.

The tournament, however, will not feature defending champions Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) Aligarh, but will have other top teams, including runners up Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith (MGKV) Varanasi, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU-Amritsar), Barkatullah University (Bhopal), Madras University, Jamia Millia University, New Delhi, besides hosts BHU.

In 1993, the premier tourney was last hosted by BHU, when GNDU had pipped the hosts by a solitary goal in the title clash.

The 16 teams have been divided into four pools and the winner of every pool will enter the semi-finals. The final will be played on January 15.

Former midfielder of national team, who captained the Indian side to the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Ramandeep Singh has been appointed observer for the tournament by the Association of India Universities (AIU).

UNI