Chance for aspirants to make a mark

LUCKNOW: Unlike last year when the players had to struggle in hot weather as the dates of senior national men’s A division hockey championship were shifted to May because of UP assembly elections, they will get a perfect weather this time around as the event begins on Thursday. The 11-day event, the final of which will be played on March 25, is a big opportunity for many, including former India forward Danish Mujtaba and a few core group players to make their presence felt with some extra-ordinary showing. The doors of Indian team are still open for talented ones in view of a series of hockey events this year. Even if they fail to make it to the 24 core group probables, they can be included in the development group of 24 players.

“There is a possibility of one getting selected for an event like Asian Champions Trophy (October 18-28 at Oman), but to make the cut one has to be extraordinary at the nationals,” said one of the selectors RP Singh on Wednesday. National selector BP Govinda as well as the Hockey India’s high performance director David John will be in Lucknow to spot the talent. A number of core group players like Harjeet Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Talwinder, Ishan Tirkey and Virendra Lakra representing Petroleum Sports Control Board are expected to be seen in action. Twenty teams, including defending champions Railways Sports Promotion Board and runners-up Punjab and Sindh Bank, have confirmed their participation. The unique part of the event this year is that out of 48 matches, 32 will be played at the newly-developed Padmashri Mohd Shahid hockey stadium, whereas 16 matches are slated at the Dhyanchand Stadium at the Guru Govind Singh Sports College. “For the first time, we have roped in MP Birla Group as one of the key sponsors of the event,” he added. Danish Mujtaba-led hosts and former runners-up Uttar Pradesh, which have been clubbed in Group A along with RSPB, Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, Hockey Odisha and Hockey Bhopal, will begin their campaign with a match against MP Hockey Academy on Thursday at 4.30 pm.