Punjab to spend Rs.200 crore on hockey stadia

Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, S. Sukhbir Singh Badal, at the sidelines of the concluding day of the 21st Sub Junior National Under 14 Girls Hockey Championship at Bassi Pathana, announced that the Government of Punjab shall be spending nearly Rs.200 crore to construct and upgrade six international level hockey stadium, and eight multi-purpose sports stadium.
He also informed that a sports nursery in every District  would be another major initiative to promote sports amongst children of Punjab.
This would be a major accompllishment for Punjab and a great support to the revival of Indian hockey. 

Hockey Stalwarts honoured

On the concluding day of the 21^st Sub Junior National Under 14 Girls Hockey Championship here today, several hockey stalwarts were honoured by the Mehar Baba Charitable Trust (MBCT), which was the co-organiser and host of the event.

Dr Thakar Singh Ikolaha Awards of Excellence were presented to international hockey players and former coaches of the Indian hockey team, Rajinder Singh, Narinder Singh Sodhi, Jasjeet Kaur, as well as to Baldev Singh of Shahbad Markanda.  Rani Rampal, who is just 16 and member of the World Eleven hockey team having earlier played Asia Cup and Senior World Cup, etc, was also honored.

MBCT also recognized the services of Hansraj Chhabra, who is coaching the children at MBCT Hockey Nursery.

Komalpreet Kaur Shukla, gold medalist in South Asian Games in Fencing was also presented with a plaque for bringing honor to the country.

Dr Thakar Singh Ikolaha was a freedom fighter of early 20^th century who founded the Gadar Party in USA, was the grandfather of Prof. H.S. Mejie, founder chairman of Mehar Baba Charitable Trust, on whose memory the Award has been instituted.

Haryana wins the Sub Junior National Championship Trophy

Haryana girls defeated Chandigarh to win the championship trophy at the 21^st Sub Junior National Under 14 Girls Hockey Championship which concluded here today.

Haryana girls were all over in the Chandigarh’s half though the latter defended brilliantly. Both teams equally well yet failed to score in the first half.

Haryana got the opportunity of two penalty corners but failed to convert.  However, in the second half of the game, Udita sounded the board as she beat the Chandigarh’s goal keeper to score for Haryana.

Organised under the aegis of Indian Hockey Federation by Pepsu Women Hockey Association, Fatehgarh District Women Hockey Association and Mehar Baba Charitable Trust, the finals concluded in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal.

In his address, Shri Badal commended the role played by Mehar Baba Charitable Trust in reviving hockey in the small town of Bassi Pathana by setting up a nursery for young boys and girls, and he promised that all support would be provided to Fatehgarh district to set up best sports facilities in the area.

He announced that sports nurseries would be opened in every District of Punjab so as to encourage the students to participate in various games.

Shri Sukhbir Badal handed over the championship trophy to the team from Haryana and the first and second runners-up trophies to Chandigarh and Mizoram respectively. 

Mizoram bags third position

In the semi-final held on 27th May of Sub Junior National Under 14 Girls Hockey Championship, Mizoram routed Pepsu team 3-0.  F.Lalwmpuii of Mizoram created hat-trick by scoring all the three goals for her team.  Right from the word go, Mizoram girls were all over and proved no match for the local Pepsu girls team. 

Championship Anthem

MBCT Hockey Nursery assigned the task of penning the lyrics for the Championship's theme of 'Hamari Beti - Pride of India' or 'Desh di Shaan' to a budding lyricist and singer Harf Cheema, who did full justice to the theme and has come out with "Kurdiye ni kuchh aisa kar" which is full of verve. The song celebrates the power of women, and the empowerment that they are showing by coming forward and participating in hockey.
     The theme song would be officially released by Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur, Member of Parliament at the inaugural function of the 21st Sub Junior National Girls Under 14 Hockey Championship at Bassi Pathana tomorrow at 10am.

Click here to download  the Theme Anthem.

23 Teams Confirm Participation

According to Mr. P.P. Singh, Secretary Pepsu Women Hockey Association, and Organising Secretary of the 21st Sub Junior National Hockey Under 14 for Girls Championship, 23 teams have confirmed their participation in this exciting event.
Majority of the teams are arriving today evening for which a team of volunteers from Mehar Baba Charitable Trust Hockey Nursery would be there at the Sirhind Railway Station to receive the teams. Thanks to the help from the transport department, buses would be available to transport the teams to Fatehgarh Gurudwara Saheb, which is so kindly hosting all the teams.
Yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner of Fatehgarh Saheb, Mr. Yashvir Mahajan, called a meeting of all District functionaries from the administration, public health, public works, education, health, etc, and personally visited the ITI Grounds to oversee the arrangements.  He had been kind enough to spearhead the work and offer all assistance to make this event a grand success, and all organisers are grateful to him for the support of the District Administration.

Curtain Raiser Press Conference

The organising committee and the co-host of the Sub Junior National Girls Under 14 Hockey Championship addressed the media at Chandigarh Press Club on 1st May. 

Prof H.S. Mejie, Chairman of Mehar Baba Charitable Trust (MBCT), Bassi Pathana, former chief secretary Punjab, Mr. A.S. Chatha, who is President of MBCT, along with Justice Nirmal Singh, MLA, Bassi Pathana, Mr. P.P. Singh, Member, Indian Hockey Federation and Hony Secretary, Pepsu Women Hockey Association, Mrs Sukhwinder Kaur, Hony Finance Secretary of Pepsu Women Hockey Association, and Mr. Amritpal Singh Tiwana, President, District Women Hockey Association, Fatehgarh Saheb, addressed the media. 

Download Press Release here. 

Media Room

Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal to Inaugurate U14 Championship

We are indeed grateful to Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Member of Parliament, who has very kindly agreed to inaugurate the Sub Junior National Hockey Under 14 Championship on 20th May 2012 at Bassi Pathana, District Fatehgarh Saheb in Punjab.
She is a firm believer in the empowerment of women and an avowed crusader against female foeticide. She has been championing the cause as chairperson of the Nanhi Chaaon Foundation.
Her presence would be a source of great inspiration for every girl participating in the championship. 

The first-time ever

Another gian step forward for Mehar Baba Charitable Trust (MBCT), and its Hockey Nursery.

Having been called to host the first-ever National Sub Junior Under 14 Girls Hockey Championship, MBCT feels privileged to be a part of this.
There are several unique aspects of this Championship.  One, that this is for the first time that any national hockey association has decided to organise an Under-14 hockey championship for the girls.
Second, it makes it very special since it is for the girls, whose number is dwindling especially in the northern region. And as per recent census, Fatehgarh Sahib is one area that suffers the most in male:female ratio. That is the reason, that MBCT has decided to a cute little face of a girl, the logo of a Rotary Club of Chandigarh's initiative of working against female foeticide, Hamari Beti, as the mascot for this tournament, which will appear in all merchandise and in-stadia publicity.  This is a mascot of a smiling baby girl, who has the right to come into the world and enjoy.
Third, this U14 Championship also showcases the power of women to the residents of this region.  The girls especially would feel empowered, a mission close to the MBCT's heart, for which it had been working for the past several years.
Fourth, the U14 Championship is a great boon to the young boys and girls team of MBCT Hockey Nursery which started its crusade to revive hockey in India and started training the boys and girls under 5 years, and have already flourished into good players who would definitely, get into the national hockey teams in the years to come.
It is therefore imperative that large number of contingents from each State in the country participate and send in their teams to this exciting event that will be a memorable step forward for the girls to show their mettle in the national and international hockey arenas.

Prof. H.S. Mejie
Chairman, U14 Championship