With an aim to revive and start a new beginning between Bhopal hockey players and supporters and fans of national game hockey, All India Arjun Singh Golden Hockey tournament would be organised at Aishbagh stadium from May 24 to 31, said former Olympian and Patron of the organizing committee Inam-Ur-Rahman. While talking to media persons, Chairman of the organising committee Mahendra Singh Chouhan said that national and international players have come together for organising hockey tournament in the State capital for the first time. It is witnessed for the first time in the country that the organising committee comprises international and national players.
The organising committee believes that the city people would enjoy best hockey during the tournament and would take Bhopal hockey to a new level which would help in nurturing vast talent pool in the State, he added. The tournament winner would get Rs1 lakh and the runner up would be awarded Rs51,000. Air India, Bharat Petroleum, ONCG, Indian Oil, Western Railways Mumbai, South Central Railways Hyderabad, WCR Jabalpur, PNB Delhi, Union Bank Mumbai and UP Eleven are invited for the tournament.
Organising Secretary Jalaluddin Rizvi said that from the city two teams Blue and Red would participate in the tournament. All the matches would be played in the evening and would be played according to the current format. Permission from hockey India has been procured and the other permissions have been obtained in order to organize a smooth tournament.
Players from SAI Bhopal, Academy for Sports and Youth Welfare would participate in the tournament. The number of teams could not be confirmed as the talks are going on and organizing committee hopes for positive response from the invitee teams, he added. The organising panel comprises Congress leader Ajay Singh, Olympian Inam-UR-Rahman, Sameer Daad, Jalaluddin Rizvi, Mahendra Singh Chouhan.