Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 6

Hundreds of budding hockey players are being continuously denied the opportunity to hone their skills on the AstroTurf at Guru Nanak Dev University’’s hockey ground, which according to them has worn out and outlived its life. This is the solitary hockey ground in the Majha region.

After learning the basics of the game on the normal ground, players graduate to this ground to sharpen their skills of ball possession, stick work, defence and attack.

Former hockey Olympian Balwinder Singh Shammi said the present condition of the ground was deplorable and players could not train on it. The border district has produced an array of national and international players. At present, six players of the district who had once studied in the university and played on its hockey ground, are in the national men and women teams drafted to play in the Olympics.

Currently, about 400 men and women players of Amritsar and Tarn Taran depend on this ground for preparation. A large number of players and the solitary ground offer each team only twice a week period to play. The Covid-19 induced lockdown and restrictions drastically curtailed the playing time of players. However, veteran hockey players are of the view that the vacuum is drastic as all nationals and entire international tournaments are played on the AstroTurf. This track adds so much velocity to the ball that a fine player without adequate playing exposure of the AstroTurf would be at a loss.

Mandeep Singh, assistant director, Sports, at GNDU, said: “The present synthetic hockey track has outlived its life and the university has applied to the Sports Authority of India to replace the present one. Earlier, the SAI had replaced the turf in 2013. This time, it (SAI) asked the university to apply under the Khelo India and the documentation work was underway. At present, an AstroTurf costs Rs7 crore, but in case of the university’s hockey ground, the foundation was intact. So, it will require less amount to replace the worn out portion.”