With two back-to-back national events lined up in Simdega, hockey enthusiasts are elated that the

game close to their hearts is making a comeback in a big way after a long gap during the pandemic.

While the Hockey India sub-junior women’s national championship 2021 will be held at Simdega Astroturf Hockey Stadium during March 10-18, the junior national women’s championship will take place at the same venue during April 3-12.

“Hockey India has entrusted us to conduct the events that will be the biggest sporting events in the state after those remained suspended during the lockdown,” informed Hockey Jharkhand president Bholanath Singh, adding they were getting full support from the state government in organising the events.

“There will be 26 teams in each of those events and over 500 players and team officials are expected to participate both the times,” he further informed, adding arrangements for their accommodation, etc have already been done for the sub-junior championship beginning next week.

On the first five days, the participating teams will have to play the pool matches and the top eight teams will then vie for the national title to be decided on knock-out basis, Singh further informed.

The quarter-final matches will be played on March 15 and 16 and the semis on March 16 while the finalists will clash for the title on March 18, he added.

They will, however, have to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) as received from Hockey India and also issued by the state government from time to time and will take all safety measures such as maintaining social distancing by officials and spectators, he further said.

“Most of the players and officials will reach near-by Rourkela station in Odisha and they would be brought here by bus,” informed Hockey Simdega secretary Manoj Konbegi, adding many committees were formed for smooth conduct of the event.

“The Covid-19 restrictions will surely dishearten many enthusiasts as they all can’t get entry into the stadium, otherwise the venue would be flooded by them,” Konbegi further said from Simdega, referring to the popularity of the game in the region.

Simdega, along with neighbouring Khunti and Gumla districts, is known as the hockey belt of Jharkhand that produced many famous national and international players, both men and women.

Often beginning with bamboo sticks and worn-out balls, the local boys and girls, mostly belonging to poor tribal families, mastered the wizardry with their stick work and went on to represent the district, state and finally the county for winning laurels in World Cups and Olympics.

“But we will surely give priority to players and interested students so that they get to witness these national events, particularly when those are being organised at their own place,” Konbegi added.

The Simdega Astroturf Stadium Manob Choudhary