Seven-a-side hockey: Rampur Coaching Centre, Jarkhar Academy lift trophies

Sports Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 9

Rampur Coaching Centre and Jarkhar Academy emerged champions in the sub-junior and senior sections, respectively, in the Seven-a-Side Mata Gurmit Kaur and Gurinder Pal Singh Waraich Memorial Jarkhar Hockey League organised at Jarkhar village on the Ludhiana-Malerkotla road.

In the final, Rampur Coaching Centre outwitted Amargarh Hockey Centre, Malerkotla, 4-1 while Jarkhar Hockey Academy beat Gill Club of Ghwadi 8-5 to lift the winners’ trophies in their respective categories.

In the sub-junior group, Arshpreet Singh of Rampur Coaching Centre was declared the player of the tournament whereas Navjot Singh of Rampur centre, Angad Singh and Sukhdeep Singh from Amargarh centre while Anupreet Singh of Jarkhar Academy given the best player awards. They were given gift hampers.

In the senior section, Sharanpreet Singh of Jarkhar Academy was named the player of the tournament while Pawanpreet Singh (Jarkhar), Ravinder Singh Kala (Ghwadi) and goal keeper Sampooran Singh (Ghwadi) were given the best player awards.

Parminder Singh Dhindsa, former finance minister, Punjab, was the chief guest at the prize distribution function. He appreciated members of Mata Sahib Kaur Sports Welfare Trust for providing the best available sports infrastructure and announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the development of hockey from the discretionary quota of his father and Rajya Sabha member, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.

Speaking on the occasion, Dhindsa said if his party comes to power, a sports policy, better than that of Haryana, would be framed for the development of sports culture in Punjab. He also urged upon the state government to felicitate Punjab players on the pattern of the neighbouring state by recruiting achievers to gazetted ranks and extend financial rewards.

Jagdish Singh Garcha, former Punjab minister, Mann Singh Garcha, Harpreet Singh Garcha, member of SGPC, Manpreet Singh Talwandi, president of the youth wing, SAD, Sukhwant Singh, Sukhdev Singh Chak Kalan, Narinder Pal Singh Sidhu, chairman, Jarkhar Sports Festival, advocate Harkamal Singh, Amrik Singh Minhas, inspector Balbir Singh and sarpanch Balwinder Singh were among those others present.

Jagroop Singh Jarkhar, director, Jarkhar Hockey Academy, thanked the chief guest and others for sparing some time and encouraging the budding players. Ravinder Singh Waraich, Dharminder Singh Money and Simran Prabhdeep Kaur, family members of Gurinder Singh Waraich and Mata Gurmit Kaur, were also honoured.