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Punjab is very passionate about hockey and has given the country many great players to the country. Punjab was known as the sports arm of the country. Though Punjab is still the home of many of top hockey outfits of the country, including Punjab and Sind Bank, Namdharis, Punjab Police and Border Security Force, yet the base of the sport has shrunk considerably over the past few decades. Hockey of late has become an elite sport and only developed or affluent nations have been enjoying complete dominance.
But Punjab government is now doing a great job to promote hockey in the state. Director of Punjab sports Pargat Singh has come up with a new idea which is getting popular.
The Punjab government is buying old and used synthetic turfs from the stadiums of the country and installing them in villages. As a result of this move 10 villages in Punjab has six a side hockey turfs and they plan to install 7 more by 2011.
In order to do well in international level the kids should play on these turfs and in India there are were few synthetic turfs so the children are not exposed to playing on these turfs. Many players of under-17 and under-19 level face turfs for the first time when they go and represent their state in the nationals. And the age bracket below that do not play on it.
Due to budget problems the Punjab Government bought old and used turfs so that players can practice on it. They government buys and then converts it into smaller turf so that kids can practice on it.
The arrival of commonwealth games has turned out to be boon for the villages in Punjab. The sports department of Punjab bought an old turf from Shivaji Stadium in Delhi for Rs. 5 lacs and refitted them in four villages in Punjab.
The government has also received turfs from Guru Nanak University and National Institute of Sports.
This is a very good platform to develop hockey in India. All other states should take a note of it and thus improve the national game of the country. Every kid in the future should say these words…..
“Desh Hindustan, Gaon Hockey, Dharam Hockey. Hockey ne hi sab kuch diya hai and hockey ko hi dene ki kosish karenge”
FAME THROUGH NATIONAL GAME
