Pune: The 1st Hockey India Junior National hockey championship will be held in Pune from December 10 to 21 at the Shiv Chattrapati Shivaji Sports Complex Mhalunge-Balewadi astro-truf.After years of litigious state that saw juniors getting raw deal as no proper selection process was in place, the revival of Hockey India Junior National championship will give much needed fillip to young players to showcase their talent at what is now known as the Sports City of India.
Organised by Maharashtra hockey, under the aegis of the Hockey India, national governing body for hockey, the championship will see teams from 26 states and 520 players completing for supremacy in hockey. There will be 75 officials and 100 volunteers who would be involved in making sure that everything goes right.
Ever since Hockey India took over the reins of hockey, the sport has gone overhaul, but juniors remained neglected and their performance unaccounted for. Hence this step by Hockey India to revive the championship makes a bold statement and commitment of the national federation to improve broad-base of the sport and give untapped talent a chance to show their worth.
“It is a huge responsibility as it involves the future faces of Indian hockey. It is always nice to be associated with the sport and I am glad that I my experience was being utilized,” said Mir Ranjan Negi, who has decided to lend his support for the event. Negi is also a Maharashra Hockey Executive Committee member.
Also speaking on the occasion was Hockey India Joint Secretary, Manoj Bhore, who incidentally is also Treasurer, Maharashtra Hockey. As tournament Organising Secretary, Bhore added, “I thank Hockey India for allotting the tournament to Sports City, Pune. The Junior National will provide the right platform for Hockey India to have a look at the talent that exists in the country.”
Having got the honour to host the inaugural Junior Nationals, the Hockey Maharashtra headed by Rekha Bhide, has designed a logo for the event that brings out Maratha history in the forefront. A hockey player in action in front of iconic Shaniwarwada makes up the logo for the junior national championship.With the senior national camp already on at the Balewadi Complex, the winters will have an extended hockey festival in Pune. The junior nationals was being looked at by India’s hockey coach Michael Nobbs, who has been proposing to the Hockey India to begin ‘spot the new generation’ at the earliest.“There has been no Nationals held for a long time and Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra and other members felt it was necessary to move on,” added Negi.
Maharashtra Hockey President, Rekha Bhide added, “Pune has been a front runner in taking initiatives in hosting events. As president of Maharashtra Hockey I will ensure that there will be no stone left upturned in making this championship an event to remember.”
Maharashtra Hockey, Honorary General Secretary, Cdr. Kehar Singh VSM IN (Retd), added, “It is indeed a great opportunity to show our prowess and expertise in handling the responsibility of this magnitude. This is also a befitting occasion for our young and upcoming hockey players particularly from Pune and its suburbs to witness daily matches and enabling them to improve.”
It will be after a while that Pune city, which has given the country four Olympians in Joe Phillips, Baburao Nimal, Dhanraj Pillay and Vikram Pillay, will host such a big championship over a period of 10 days.
Reception Committee Chairman, and Vice President of Khadki Cantonment Manish Anand speaking at the press conference, "This is a proud moment to host the first ever Hockey India Junior Nationals. Moreover, me being part of Khadki that has produced these hand full of top players for India, it is an honour to work towards making the championship a success.”
