BHOPAL, 17 May — The 63rd edition of the All India Obaidullah Khan Memorial Gold Cup Hockey Tournament got under way at the historic Aishbagh Stadium.
Addressing a joint press conference PC Sharma, MLA & chairman of the organizing committee, office-bearers of Bhopal Hockey Association (BHA), which is organizing the tournament, secretary Syed Aftabuddin, president Ajay Gupta and organizing secretary I. Rahman said leading hockey teams of the country will be participating in the tournament.
The top teams which have confirmed their entry in the tournament include last-years’ winners Indian Airlines, Punjab Police, Punjab & Sindh Bank, Indian Navy, Corps of Signals (Jallandhur), Southern Railways, Northern Railways, Western Railways, South-Central Railways, Bengal XI, CRPF, India Coach Factory (ICF), Oil & Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) XI, Town Hall Club (Shahjahanpur), Amrawati XI, Meerut Hostel XI, Chief Post Master General (CPMG) and Madhya Pradesh Police.
Apart from this four local teams namely Central Railway, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) and Amir Club will also participate in the tournament. There is also likelihood of Air India, Tata Sports Club and Bharat Petroleum Sports Club teams to play in the tournament. “Their acceptance is awaited”, they informed.
Replying to a question Syed Aftabuddin said the final of the tournament is slated for May 30 and the semifinals for May 28 and 29. The final and the semifinals would be telecast live by Doordarshan, he added.
Ajay Gupta informed that BHA has requested Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) to send the Indian hockey team selected for Australia tour to play an exhibition match in the tournament here in Bhopal against the Rest XI. “We are waiting for the IHF response”, he quipped.
I. Rahman replying to a questioner said the winners will be awarded RS100,000 as prize money along with glittering gold cup while the runners-up would receive RS50,000. The Best Player of the tournament would also be awarded, he added.
PC Sharma said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh would distribute the prizes.
It may be mentioned here that the tournament is held here every year in the memory of Obaidullah Khan, who was the elder brother of erstwhile Bhopal State Nawab Hameedullah Khan but he died young.
