Pakistan hockey eves to take part in Surjit hockey tourney

Hockey matches between India and Pakistan invariably generate an outpouring of excitement – at most times it’s a no-holds-barred contest with no quarter given and no quarter asked for. The stakes are really high. But sometimes a participation of a Pakistan team in a domestic tournament is enough to stoke curiosity among hockey fans in the country.

Indian hockey fans will be experiencing the same as Pakistan women’s hockey team will be participating in the upcoming Surjit Singh Memorial hockey tournament beginning in Jallandhar from October 9-18.

It may be worth recalling that Surjit Singh was a famed, proficient Indian full-back, who was adept at scoring penalty corner goals during his salad days.

Surjit had died in a card accident in 1984 near Kartarpur in Jalandhar district after his retirement from the game – he was one of the top performers for the country at the 1982 World Cup held in Mumbai.

The participation of the Pakistan women’s hockey team will lend some colour to the Surjit Singh Memorial hockey tournament – which is anyway touted as one of the premier hockey tourneys of the country.

The decks were cleared for the Pakistan women’s hockey team’s participation after the Indian High Commission in Islamabad granted them visa to to take part in the Surjit Hockey tournament.

However, the participation of the Pakistan’s men team is still under a cloud – it is learnt that they are yet to get visa clearance for the event.

It’s not just the Pakistan women’s hockey team which will be marking its presence in the Surjit Singh Memorial hockey tournament.

Lahore-based international umpire Hafiz Atif Malik will be officiating in the Surjit Hockey tournament after he received his visa from the Indian High Commission.

It may be mentioned here that Atif Malik had recently umpired in the 3rd Sultan of Johor Cup at Malaysia. Atif had earlier officiated in the Surjit Hockey tournament last year.

The Surjit Singh Memorial hockey tournament will witness as many as 16 teams slugging for top honours.

Leading lights like defending champions Indian Oil, Mumbai and last year’s runners-up Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai will take part in the tournament.

The tourney will also feature teams like Punjab & Sind Bank Delhi, Border Security Force (BSF), Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai, Punjab National Bank, Delhi, Oil & Natural Gas Commission (ONGC), Delhi, Cops of Signal, Army-XI, Mumbai-XI, Indian Air Force, Delhi, Indian Navy, Mumbai, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, Punjab Police, Indian Overseas Bank, Bangaluru and Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL), Patiala.

A total prize money of Rs 7.75 lakh is at stake this year.