Air Force Hockey Championship begins

Chandigarh, June 18 (UNI) Maintenance Command and Western Air Command teams played a three-all draw in the opening match of the Air Force Hockey Championship, here today.

In other matches, Central Air Command defeated Air HQ team by 4-1, South Western Air Command beat Training Command by 4-0 and Eastern Air Command routed Southern Air Command by 14-0.

Meanwhile, eight teams have been divided into two pools and the matches will be played on league-cum-knockout basis.

Maintenance Command (MC), Western Air Command (WAC), Eastern Air Command (EAC) and Southern Air Command (SAC) are in Pool A, while Training Command (TC), South Western Air Command (SWAC), Central Air Command (CAC) and Air Headquarters (AHQ) are in Pool B.

Earlier, Air Officer Commanding Air Commodore R K Srivastava declared the Championship open. Speaking on the occasion, he emphasised upon the need to play the game with true spirit of sportsmanship. He exhorted the players to put in their best in the championship by using every bit of coaching they have received as a hockey player.

UNI