With a promise to meet again next year, the nine day Hockey extravaganza- 35th Surjit Hockey Tournament today concluded with a much fanfare as the Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Punjab Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa presided over a function to mark culmination of this event.
The nine day tournament that began on October 23rd witnessed fantastic Hockey as leading 14 teams of the country including defending Champion Punjab Police, runners up ONGC, New Delhi along with Punjab & Sind Bank Delhi, CAG New Delhi, Air India Mumbai, Indian Railways Delhi, Indian Oil Mumbai, Indian Navy Mumbai, Indian Air Force Mumbai, RCF Kapurthala, BSF Jalandhar, CRPF Delhi, Punjab National Bank Delhi & Army-XI Delhi vied for the title.Meanwhile, addressing the gathering the Minister said that the state government under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was committed for giving major fillip to the sports in the state. He said that the state government would leave no stone unturned to ensure that Punjab emerges as a front runner state in the arena of sports.
Mr. Bajwa said that the entire focus of the state government was to channelize the unbounded energy of the youth in a positive direction.Announcing a grant of Rs 21 lakh for the Surjit Hockey Academy, the Minister lauded the stupendous efforts being made by the academy for producing ace Hockey player in the national and international arena. He assured fulsome support and cooperation to the academy by the state government for further promoting hockey the national game in the region. “The efforts of the academy are really laudable and I am sure it will certainly help in restoring the pristine glory of the game in the world” added Mr. Bajwa.Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar cum President of the Surjit Hockey Society welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries to the tournament.Meanwhile, the famous Punjabi singer Mr. Parmish Verma regaled the audiences with his songs. On the occasion Commissioner of Police Mr. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Navjot Singh Mahal, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mr. Jatinder Jorwal, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr. Gurmit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr. PS Bhandall, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr. Navneet Singh Mahal, Additional Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Mr. Iqbal Singh Sandhu, Chief PRO Surjit Hockey Mr. Surinder Singh Bhapa, District Guidance Counselor Mr. Surjit Lal and others were also present.