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Hans India
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
Hockey India hosts 15th Congress, unveils nationwide festival and grants for 100-year celebration
Hockey India successfully conducted its 15th Congress in the historic town of Mahabalipuram on Sunday. Marking a century of Indian hockey's glorious journey, the session witnessed a series of landmark announcements, including a Nationwide Festival of Hockey Celebration on November 7 and substantial financial support for state and national-level hockey development. Indian hockey's legacy began in 1925 with the formation of its first-ever national governing body. To commemorate this historic milestone, Hockey India will organise an unprecedented, nationwide celebration on November 7. The event will feature 1,000 simultaneous matches - one men's and one women's match in every district of the country - engaging over 36,000 players (18,000 men and 18,000 women). This massive initiative will bring together players from every corner of the nation, reflecting not only the unity and diversity of India, but also the enduring passion that hockey continues to inspire. In a visionary move to further empower the ecosystem of Indian hockey, Hockey India announced substantial increases in financial grants to support the organisation of national and grassroots-level events: Rs 70 lakh each for hosting the Senior Men's and Senior Women's National Championships Rs 30 lakh each for Junior Men, Junior Women, Sub-Junior Men, and Sub-Junior Women National Championships. Rs 25 lakh per state to support the organisation of district and state-level competitions. These enhanced grants aim to strengthen infrastructure, improve event quality, and ensure wider participation by reducing financial constraints at the local level. The support is expected to benefit thousands of emerging players, coaches, and grassroots officials who are the backbone of Indian hockey's future. Dilip Tirkey, President, Hockey India, said,'As we celebrate 100 years of Indian hockey, we not only honour our golden legacy but also lay a strong foundation for the future. This nationwide festival is our tribute to every player, coach, and fan who has carried Indian hockey forward. The financial support we are announcing is a direct investment in the dreams of the next generation, ensuring that no talent is left behind due to lack of resources.' Bhola Nath Singh, Secretary General, Hockey India, added, 'This centenary celebration is not just symbolic - it's action-oriented. The increased grants are a reflection of our belief that real growth happens at the grassroots, and that equal opportunity, gender parity, and quality infrastructure are essential pillars of hockey's resurgence. We thank all our state units and districts for their commitment, and we look forward to a grand, inclusive celebration on 7th November.'
NDTV
03-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
India vs Pakistan Cricket To Resume In September After Operation Sindoor? Report: "BCCI Is..."
Is India vs Pakistan cricket clash in Asia Cup a strong possibility in September? That is the question on everyone's mind after a sports ministry source said Pakistan's hockey teams will not be stopped from competing in next month's Asia Cup and the junior World Cup in India. While the Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 to September 7, the junior World Cup will be organised in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10. If it happens it will be one of the first instances of a sporting team from Pakistan travelling to India after Operation Sindoor. When asked whether this means India will be allowed to play against Pakistan in the Asia Cup of cricket in September, the source said, "The BCCI is yet to reach out to the ministry on this. We will address this query when they approach us." India and Pakistan have been avoiding bilateral sporting engagements for close to two decades but even multi-lateral face-offs were in doubt after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists were gunned down in April. "We are not against any team competing in India in a multi-national competition. If we try to stop Pakistan it would be seen as a violation of the Olympic Charter. But bilateral is different and there will be no relaxation on that front," the source said. However, regarding allowing the hockey team, the sports ministry source said, any move to block the arch-foes would be a violation of the Olympic Charter. The Charter is akin to the constitution of the Olympic movement and stresses on sport as a tool for promoting international peace and cooperation. As a result, any attempt to block a rival country from a multi-national event adversely impacts the host nation's prospects of getting future hosting rights. In May, India retaliated with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan leading to a tense military showdown that de-escalated on Pakistan's request for a ceasefire. "International sports demands that we cannot back out from competing in multi-national competitions. Take for instance, Russia and Ukraine, they are at war but they show up at multi-national events and compete as well," he added. Hockey India (HI) welcomed the decision to allow Pakistan hockey teams to play in Asia Cup and junior World Cup in India. "We welcome government's decision. Our stance from the beginning was that whatever the government decides we will abide by that. There is no other argument in that," HI secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said. HI had repeatedly stated that they would abide by the government directive on the matter.
India Today
03-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Pakistan hockey team will travel to India for Asia Cup: Sports ministry source
The Pakistan men's hockey teams will be allowed to travel to India for next month's Asia Cup and the Junior World Cup later this year, a Sports Ministry source confirmed on Thursday, stating that any attempt to block participation would contravene the Olympic bilateral sporting ties between India and Pakistan remain suspended, the government has made it clear that it will not stand in the way of Pakistan's participation in multinational events held in India. The Asia Cup is scheduled to take place in Rajgir, Bihar, from 27 August to 7 September, while the Junior World Cup is slated for Chennai and Madurai from 28 November to 10 are not against any team competing in India in a multi-national competition. If we try to stop Pakistan, it would be seen as a violation of the Olympic Charter. But bilateral is different, and there will be no relaxation on that front," the ministry source said. The Olympic Charter, which governs the Olympic movement, considers sport a medium for promoting peace and international cooperation. Denying participation to a country in a global or continental competition can attract serious scrutiny from international federations and may affect India's chances of hosting future asked if the clearance extended to the upcoming Asia Cup in cricket this September, where India and Pakistan are drawn in the same group, the source said, "The BCCI is yet to reach out to the ministry on this. We will address this query when they approach us."advertisementIndia and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series in any sport for nearly two decades, and even multilateral encounters have come under pressure in the wake of strained political relations. Following the Pahalgam terror attack in April, where 26 Indian tourists lost their lives, tensions escalated further. India's retaliatory Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure across the border, prompted a brief military standoff that only de-escalated after Pakistan sought a ceasefire."International sports demands that we cannot back out from competing in multi-national competitions. Take for instance, Russia and Ukraine-they are at war, yet they turn up for events and compete. The same principle applies here," the official India (HI), which will host both tournaments, welcomed the decision."We welcome the government's decision. Our stance from the beginning was that whatever the government decides, we will abide by that. There is no other argument in that," said Bhola Nath Singh, HI secretary had earlier reiterated that it would follow whatever directive the central government issued regarding Pakistan's participation.- Ends
New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Pakistan hockey team won't be stopped from competing in India: Ministry source
NEW DELHI: Pakistan's hockey teams will not be stopped from competing in next month's Asia Cup and the junior World Cup in India as any move to block the arch-foes would be a violation of the Olympic Charter, a sports ministry source said on Thursday. While the Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 to September 7, the junior World Cup will be organised in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10. "We are not against any team competing in India in a multi-national competition. If we try to stop Pakistan it would be seen as a violation of the Olympic Charter. But bilateral is different and there will be no relaxation on that front," the source said. The Charter is akin to the constitution of the Olympic movement and stresses on sport as a tool for promoting international peace and cooperation. As a result, any attempt to block a rival country from a multi-national event adversely impacts the host nation's prospects of getting future hosting rights. When asked whether this means India will be allowed to play against Pakistan in the Asia Cup of cricket in September, the source said, "The BCCI is yet to reach out to the ministry on this. We will address this query when they approach us." India and Pakistan have been avoiding bilateral sporting engagements for close to two decades but even multi-lateral face-offs were in doubt after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 tourists were gunned down in April. In May, India retaliated with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan leading to a tense military showdown that de-escalated on Pakistan's request for a ceasefire. "International sports demands that we cannot back out from competing in multi-national competitions. Take for instance, Russia and Ukraine, they are at war but they show up at multi-national events and compete as well," he added. Hockey India (HI) welcomed the decision to allow Pakistan hockey teams to play in Asia Cup and junior World Cup in India. "We welcome government's decision. Our stance from the beginning was that whatever the government decides we will abide by that. There is no other argument in that," HI secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said. HI had repeatedly stated that they would abide by the government directive on the matter.
NDTV
01-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Former Hockey Player Bimal Lakra In Hospital After Suffering Head Injury
Bimal Lakra, a member of the 2002 Asian Games silver medal-winning men's hockey side, was on Tuesday admitted to a hospital in Ranchi after suffering "a serious head injury due to collapse". The 45-year-old former India midfielder fell unconscious on Monday while working on his farmland in his village in Simdega subdivision. He was rushed to Simdega Hospital from where he was taken to Ranchi for further treatment. "He is stable now. The sports minister of Jharkhand met him today and has assured of all possible help. We at Hockey India are wishing for his speedy recovery," Hockey India secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh told PTI. In an earlier post on 'X', Singh wrote, "Former international hockey player Bimal Lakra has been referred to Ranchi for better treatment after serious injury due to collapse. Hon'ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand Mr Hemant Soren has given instructions for all kinds of treatment and Hon'ble Sports Minister of Jharkhand has visited the hospital to meet Bimal Lakra to learn about his health." Lakra was also a member of Asia Cup gold-winning sides in 2003 and 2007 and his siblings Birendra Lakra Sr. and Asunta also donned India jerseys in the men's and women's categories respectively. Former India player Viren Rasquinha had earlier posted on 'X' that his friend and former teammate was in hospital in "serious condition". "Hope the Govt. takes care of him now. He has no job at the moment," wrote Rasquinha.
