Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh today inaugurated 18-day senior hockey tournament-2017 at K KHakku Astro Turf Stadium.President Hockey J&K, KantaAndotra, was also present on the occasion.On the opening ceremony of the tournament, being sponsored by J&K State Sports Council, the match was played between Khalsa Club GoleGujral and MBS Simbal Camp and Platinum Women Club and Royal Club.Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Lal Singh said that the government has launched various measures to promote sports activities across the State. He said, in this regard, sports infrastructure is being equipped with latest facilities and sports material to revive the sports culture and groom talent of youth in specific fields.“Government is making strenuous efforts to organize sports events on regular basis so that state’s players are made capable of competing at national and international level,” he added.
The Minister further said there is no dearth of talent in the State and the government is determined to provide them with an opportunity to exhibit their skills. He said that several mega projects have been started to strengthen and upgrade sports infrastructure adding that funds worth crores of rupees have been earmarked for construction of stadia at tehsil and district level.In her address, KantaAndotra, said that Hockey J&K is making all out efforts to promote hockey in the State. She informed that the tournament would be played in four groups, Pool-A include Khalsa Club (GoleGujral), Bhargave Club and Sittu Club (Simble Camp, Pool-B will have Young Khalsa (GoleGujral), MBS Club (Simble Camp and Vijaypur Club, Pool-C will have Desmesh Club (Nanak Nagar), MRS Club (Simble Camp), Young Start (Simble Camp) besides Pool-D will include Ajit Club (GoleGujral), Hira Nagar Club and AKS Club (Digiana).KantaAndotra informed that Government has earmarked Rs 4 crore for upgradation of K KHakku Astro Turf adding that the work on it would be started soon.General Secretary Hockey JK G S Bakshi besides officers of Sports Council, representatives of K KHakku Astro Turf Stadium and hundreds of sports lovers were present on the occasion.