SPORTS REPORTER
JAMMU: Organised by the Hockey Jammu and Kashmir, the Hockey India Vth Sub Junior National (boys Division-B) Hockey Championship shall be played at K K Hakhu Stadium, here from 6th May.
Divided into four different groups, 20 teams, representing different state units including hosts Jammu and Kashmir, are taking part in this competition to be played on league-cum-knockout basis.
The league round is scheduled to start from 7:30 AM whereas the competition shall be formerly inaugurated by the Minister for Sports at 5:00 PM on 6th May at KK Hakku Stadium, here.
This was stated by the Working President of the Hockey J and K, Additional Director General of J and K Police (Armed), S.M Sahai in an interaction with media here this morning.
Jammu and Kashmir has been placed in group D with Hockey Himachal, Hockey Bihar, Vidarbha Hockey Association and Chandigarh Olympic Association.
The high budget event spread over 12-days is financially supported by the J and K State Sports Council and Hockey India while HDFC Bank and Aircel have also extended a helping hand in making the event a success.
It has been reliably learn that the State Sports Council has sanctioned a grant of Rs 16 lakh in addition to other on ground expenses to be occurred during the event. However, the financial support from the Hockey India depends upon the number of teams reporting the host state.
Also present were general secretary of Hockey J and K, Romal Singh, treasurer, Rajinder Singh, Joint Secretary of the State Sports Council, Siddharth Sharma and Divisional Officer, Rajan Sharma.
Meanwhile, Incharge Secretary of the State Sports Council and Director General of Department of Youth Services and Sports, Navin Agarwal, who could not make it to the press briefing, extended his best wishes to the organisers and those participating teams, especially hosts J and K.
To replace the aging astroturf at the KK Hakku Stadium, the State Sports Council contemplates plan to replace the state of the art synthetic surface with a new one in near future. This was stated by working president of the Hockey J and K, S.M Sahai in reply a specific question at the press conference.
He said that efforts are being made to get a new turf for the K K Hakku Stadium so as to make Jammu one of the selected venues to host national level events by the Hockey India.
