Top hockey teams confirm their participation in Bengaluru Cup

Bangalore, Oct 9 (IANS) Some of the country's leading teams have confirmed participation in the inaugural Bengaluru Cup All-India Invitational Hockey Tournament for men and women to be conducted by Hockey Karnataka here October 10-17.

The week-long tournament will be played on a league-cum-knock-out basis. The men's competition will have five teams -- Air India, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, Army XI and Karnataka XI -- while the women's event has attracted six teams -- Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Western Railway, Central Railway, MP Academy and Karnataka XI.

The top two teams on conclusion of the league phase will compete in the final, according to a Hockey Karnataka statement Thursday on the sidelines of a felicitation programme to honour state players who were members of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games.

Those honoured were V.R. Raghunath, S.V. Sunil, Nikkin Thimmaiah and coach Jude Felix, former India captain. The function was also attended by several former international players.

The three players along with other India stars, both current and former, will also be seen in action in the Bengaluru Cup.