The PAU Diamond Jubilee Hockey Tournament for S. Arjan Singh Bhullar Cup, that commenced amidst great fanfare on September 18, 2023, in the historic Olympian Pirthipal Singh Hockey Stadium at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), came to a roaring, celebratory closure here today. The tournament that was earlier inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor of PAU, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, saw the participation of eight Under-19 Hockey Academies as well as the presence of Olympian Dr Ashok Kumar as the Chief Guest on the Opening Day. Olympian Sh. Surinder Singh Sodhi, Arjuna Awardee, and Retd. IG (Police), IPS, was the Chief Guest at the Closing Ceremony. Olympians Sh. Hardeep Singh and Sh. Rajinder Singh too graced the occasion.
The PAU has marked its daunting presence in Field Hockey, both at the national and international levels. It has produced prominent hockey players from its playgrounds- the likes of Padma Shri S. Pirthipal Singh, Captain, 1968 Mexico Olympics; Padma Shri S. Charanjit Singh, Captain, 1964 Tokyo Olympics; Arjuna Awardee S. Ramandeep Singh Grewal, Captain, 2000 Sydney Olympics; Smt. Lata Mahajan Chinnan, who represented the Indian Hockey Team in the first Hockey World Cup for Women in 1974; S. Rajwinder Singh, who represented the Indian Hockey Team in Hockey World Cup in 1971, to name a few. As the University celebrates its Diamond Jubilee Year, this Hockey Tournament turned out to be a stellar event to commemorate its star Hockey alumni who brought laurels galore in Field Hockey to their alma mater.
Chief Organizer PAU Sports Association S. Ajay Pal Singh Punia; Controller of Examinations and President, Dr Vishavjeet Singh Hans; Vice-President Dr Navdeep Singh; and Officers of the PAU Sports Association, under the tutelage of the Chief Patron Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, the Vice-Chancellor of PAU, remained at the helm of affairs, ensuring the hockey aficionados that such tournaments would be a regular feature with more grandeur as they serve the purpose of promoting the sport of Hockey as well as fostering a camaraderie among sportspersons that is vital to teamwork.
The Chief Guest, Olympian Sh. Surinder Singh Sodhi; Vice-Chancellor of PAU, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal; PAU Board Member, S. Amanpreet Singh Brar; and the Office bearers of the PAU Sports Association gave away awards, felicitations, cash prizes and mementos to the winners:
Final Match – Malwa Hockey Academy, Ludhiana, lifted the S. Arjan Singh Bhullar Cup by defeating Round Glass Hockey Academy, Mohali. An even score of 4-4 led to the decision by shootout.
Player of the Tournament: Gursewak Singh (Round Glass Hockey Academy, Mohali).
Man of the Match: Prabhjot Singh (Malwa Hockey Academy, Ludhiana).
Best Defender: Amandeep Singh (Round Glass Hockey Academy, Mohali).
Best Half-back: Avneet Singh (Malwa Hockey Academy, Ludhiana).
Best Forward: Govind Patel (Malwa Hockey Academy, Ludhiana).
Best Goalkeeper: Jashandeep Singh (Malwa Hockey Academy, Ludhiana).
Hardline Match – Young Sports Academy, Dholan, defeated Round Glass, Kila Raipur, by 8-4.
Man of the Match: Joban Singh (Round Glass, Kila Raipur).
Overall Champions:
1st Team: Malwa Hockey Academy, Ludhiana (Cash Prize Rs. 25,000/- and S. Arjan Singh Bhullar Cup)
2nd Team: Round Glass Hockey Academy, Mohali (Cash Prize Rs. 15,000/-)
3rd Team: Young Sports Academy, Dholan (Cash Prize Rs. 12,000/-)
4th Team: Round Glass, Kila Raipur (Cash Prize Rs. 8000/-)
Congratulating the winners, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of PAU, shared that this tournament served the purpose of not only promoting the sport alone, but also, provided a compatible environment to teams and players to test their skills and strategies against their opponents. Such tournaments also help to identify promising talent, he added.
The Chief Guest, Olympian Sh. Surinder Singh Sodhi in his enthusiastic address opined that this tournament was a potential key event on the state sport calendar and would contribute to the rich tapestry of state, national and international sports.
Chief Organiser PAU Sports Association S. Ajay Pal Singh Punia expressed gratitude to all the patrons, organizing team, the players and the spectators for providing the right zeal and gusto that should define a tournament of this stature. He assured one and all that this tournament was a precedent to many more that would follow suit in the coming times.
As Malwa Hockey Academy, Ludhiana, lifted the S. Arjan Singh Bhullar Cup after a nail biting shootout, the spectators broke into a huge applause. The Final Match turned out to be a dream come true for all sports lovers, especially those who breathe and live hockey. Towards the conclusion, a felicitation of the Chief Guest, dignitaries, organizers, office bearers and the Referee S. Tejdeep Singh Bhalla was held amid good cheer and bonhomie. The concluding day of the tournament played out on the PAU Astroturf saw a heavy footfall of Officers, Deans, Directors of the University, faculty, students, guests and keen hockey lovers from the city and beyond.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=8064
