Secretary Youth Services & Sports Department, Sarmad Hafeez has said that six new hockey turfs are coming up in the Jammu and Kashmir.
He told on the sidelines of national Sports day, which was organized by J&K Sports Council as a mark of tribute to Major Dhayan Chand, the iconic hockey sportsman of the country in a function held at TRC Football Turf, Srinagar.
“We are celebrating this national sports day to pay tribute to all sportspersons who have excelled in various games and it is very important that we are able to facilitate them, bring them to focus, encourage them and that is the attempt that we have made here today,” he said.
He said that it is very important that all sportspersons work with them and become an inspiration for others also.
He added that earlier UT had only Hakkhu stadium hockey turf, now six new hockey turf fields are coming up in UT very soon.“Two of the stadiums are ready for inauguration which will be inaugurated soon, one in Pulwama, and another one in Poonch,” he said.
He said that he is sure that once the government is able to provide these youth with these facilities, they will be able to provide them this inspiration, the atmosphere, especially coaching.
“J&K will be able to produce many national stars which will help our youth to grow,” he said.
He also added that earlier hockey used to be played a lot in J&K. But in the past years’ hockey was not played in the valley and today’s attempt was to revive hockey in the UT.
“Besides normal hockey grounds we are going to build Astro hockey turf grounds at several places in UT,” he said.
Sarmad Hafeez presided over the function as chief guest while Secretary Sports Council Nuzhat Gul, Dr. Zafar Iqbal, and Harbaksh Singh were guests of honor on the occasion.
.Secretary J&K sports council Nuzhat Gull while sharing the details of steps taken for the revival of hockey in J&K said there is no doubt that hockey has been lagging behind in J&K in the past. But, the J&K sports council has taken several steps for the revival of hockey in J&K.
“Our primary focus is to provide infrastructure for hockey players. In this direction, the Sports Council has started working. We have finished around 90 percent of work by building an astroturf in Pologround and 80-90 percent work is done in Amar Singh college Gogji Bagh,” she informed.
She added that in Poonch and Pulwama districts Astro turfs are ready to play on, and these days hockey matches are also being played on Astroturf in KK Hakkhu stadium.
“We are looking for land for the turf in Baramulla district as well. We have approved project in JKIFDC of Youth services and sports department where hockey turf shall be installed,” she said.
She added turf and infrastructure are not sufficient for the revival of hockey but also training budding and talented hockey players is also important.
“In this direction Sports council had recently held a meeting with the Youth Services and Sports department under “My Youth My Program” in which clear directions have been given for conducting talent hunt programs for a hockey game in schools up to higher education level in every district.
“Department has been directed to make two to three teams in every district who would receive training from the center of excellence so that we could come up with two to three such teams in every district which would take the shape of professional sport in UT,” she said.
Gul also paid tribute to the Hockey legend and said this day marks the birthday of Major Dhyan Chand Singh, the hockey icon who won three gold medals in the Olympics for India in 1928, 1932, and 1936.
