Hockey players selected for school sports wings in Punjab

Chandigarh, Apr 27 (UNI) The Technical Committee of the Punjab Sports Department has recommended the names of 341 hockey players, both boys and girls, including 60 from the Olympian Surjit Hockey Academy, Jalandhar for induction into the sports wings in various schools and coaching centres of the state.

According to Punjab Sports Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike, more than 1300 boys and girls from all over the state appeared for the trials conducted at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar from April 9 to 15. He said that 132 seats, including 76 for boys, have been allotted for day-boarding trainees, while the remaining sports wings seats have been earmarked for residential training.

Besides physical tests, the probables also attended the skill and game parameters and were awarded points in the age group of 12 to 14, Under-16 and under-19.

The selection committee which consisted of Olympians and internationals, was headed by Col Balbir Singh, Ramandeep Singh Grewal, Rajbir Kaur, Varinder Singh, Col Haripal Kaushik, I S Gill (Sports Authority of India), Dr Simarjit Singh (SAI) and nine concerned coaches. Sukhvir Singh Grewal acted as the coordinator.

Mr Gulzar Singh also disclosed that fund for the residential and day boarding scheme for admission into sports wings had been hiked to Rs 2 crore from Rs 1.5 crore. The Sports Minister was confident that the Punjab Sports Department's move to broad base the grass root level would be further strengthened.

Sports Director Pargat Singh said that physical tests including 30 metres flying start, standing board jump, 10x6 shuttle run, and flexibility were also conducted during trials.

Sixty places for under-12, under-14, under-17 and under-19 sports wing seats for boys have been allotted to the Olympian Surjit Hockey Academy, Jalandhar. Forty seven seats have been allotted to Malwa Khalsa Senior Secondary School of Ludhiana in the under-12, under-14 and under-17 level. The Sports Department allocated 34 seats to Khalsa Senior Secondary School , Amritsar.

Other sports wings seats allotted for boys are: Springdale School, Amritsar (18 for under-14), Batala Cheema Academy (18 for under-14 and under-17), Kila Raipur (18 for under-14), Sports Wing Coaching Centre Srinh (16) and Sports Wing Coaching Centre Jharkhar (16).

The following schools and centres have been allotted seats for girls: St Thomas School, Suranasi Jalandhar (20 for u-14), Government Senior Secondary School, Nehru Garden (16), Government Girls Senior Secondary School Kairon (20), Government Senior Secondary School, Talwandi Choudhrian Kapurthala (12), Coaching Centre Gurdaspur (12), Sports Wing Coaching Centre, Maliana Moga (16) and Government Senior Secondary School, Chhiniwal Barnala (16).

UNI