AHA Glorious Cup to promote national game

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Chandigarh, Aug 18: Terming the Union Sports Ministry's decision to relegate hockey from priority list to general category as ''unkind'', Indian Hockey Federation president Kanwar Pal Singh Gill said ''this move will not make much difference to us.'' Mr Gill who was here to address a press conference along with Indian Hockey Brand Ambassador bollywood star Suniel Shetty, said, ''We are making sincere efforts to slowly but steadily restore the pristine glory of Indian hockey. Introduction of Premier Hockey League was one of the steps in this direction. Now an exhibition match between India and Pakistan for the AHA Glorious Cup on September 11 at the Sector 42 Hockey Stadium here is another effort to popularise the national game.'' ''The match will feature a number of Olympians and internationals from traditional rival countries. Another glamour added to the exhibition match is a friendly hockey match between bubbling and bustling Shah Rukh Khan's 'Chak De India' film team and bollywood stars team led by bollywood hunk Suniel Shetty. Soon after the exhibition match, the friendly match will be played,'' he added.

The IHF president informed that ''India will be hosting the 2010 Hockey World Cup, a joint venture of International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and the Asia Cup-2007 from September one.'' Ruling out for making Chandigarh as a permanent venue of the Premier Hockey League, Mr Gill said, ''Though Chandigarh is fast emerging as a hockey centre with all facilities available here, the IHF's aim is to spread the game throughout the country.'' While saying that he was not averse to foreign coaches, Gill pointed out that Jugraj Singh was imparting training to five drag flickers in the ongoing camp in Gurgaon. ''The IHF has asked Dhanraj Pillay to associate himself with the coaching of youngsters in the national camp. Similarly, Devesh Chauhan will be training the goalkeepers in the camps,'' said Mr Gill.

Answering a question Bollywood star Sunil Shetty said ''I will contribute as much I can or asked to do to promote the national game.'' Comparing hockey with cricket, he said ''Hockey is a team game while in cricket individual brilliance is counted. Hitting a century or capturing more than five wickets in an innings is highlighted. It is only hockey which has given us maximum number of gold medals in the Olympic Games. More astroturfs and allied facilities along with sponsors can promote this national game and help the country regain the past glory.'' Akash Gupta and Sapna Gupta, promoter of AHA said ''we have concevied the first-of-its-kind AHA Glorious Hockey Cup to popularise hockey among the classes as well as masses. We have sought the like-minded partners such as Suniel Shetty's Popcorn Entertainment as well as the Indian Hockey Federation to promote the game.''

UNI