Kewal Singh Pathania, Vice Chairman, H.P. State Forest Development Corporation in a letter written to Rahul Gandhi, Vice President, AICC and Shri Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports had requested to provide Astroturf for hockey at Rait in Shahpur area of Kangra District which had ample space for the same.He said that there were only two Astroturf Hockey fields in the State, viz. at Una and Shilaroo of Shimla district. He said that it would facilitate the youth of Kangra area and this facility was being demanded since long.
He said that Himachal had produced excellent hockey players who had represented the country at National and International levels and had been part of Olympic squad. He said that Shri Deepak Thakur form Una had brought laurels to the State in Olympics Games in 2008.The Astroturf field at Rait in district Kangra would provide opportunity to the youth of the area to polish their talent in hockey.