Jamshedpur: JSA Hockey Open invitational tournament will be held from August 20 to 24 at Naval Tata Astro-Turf Sports Complex, ISWP.
Tata Steel chief (corporate services) Rituraj Sinha, said, all the matches will be played at Naval Tata Astro-Turf Sports Complex, ISWP area under the latest FIH rules. A total of eight teams including DBMS English School, B H Area, Naval Tata Hockey Academy, DBMS High School, Kadma, Jaipal Singh Munda, Bharat Munda Samaj ‘A’, Bharat Munda Samaj ‘B’, Jamshedpur Friend Club ‘A’ and Jamshedpur Friends Club ‘B’ have confirmed their participation.
Addressing a press meet at JRD Sports Complex on Friday, Sinha informed that for the first time Hockey players from East Singbhum will get an opportunity to play on Astro turf at NTHA Stadium. Registration process for players and teams got over on 13th August. The charges are Rs. 500 as entry fee for the private clubs and Rs. 2000 for corporate teams.
He further said that all players will be required to register their personal details in the registration form with photographs and will need to produce their bona fide identity of belonging to the Club for inspection. Final match will be played in the floodlights and no video referral system will be available. All teams must consist of 16 Players, 1 Coach and 1 Manager or Coach-cum-Manager. The tournament will be played on knock – out basis and no extra time will be given to the teams if the game remains tied during regular playing time, and the match will be decided through tie-breaker/penalty shoot-out.
Sinha went on to say that a seminar for Coaches / Managers of the teams took place on August 16, 2018 at JRD Tata Sports Complex. They were updated on the rules and fixtures, which was drawn in their presence. The Seminar was taken by Xavier Francis and Manjit Singh.
Earlier this year a JSA Hockey Sub Committee was formed under the Chairmanship of Ritu Raj Sinha, Chief (Corporate Administration) which met on July 4th and decided to conduct the JSA Hockey Open Invitational Tournament from August 20 � 24, 2018 at the Naval Tata Hockey Academy ground.
It may be noted that the JSA Hockey League, started by hockey players and enthusiasts of the game in 1963, continues to be a passion and an identity for Jharkhand. The Chotanagpur region was then known for its love for hockey and so was the area surrounding Jamshedpur a city bustling with sporting activities. Accordingly, the JSA Hockey League was born out of such interest and at the instance of lovers of the game such as K. C. Gandhi, a Superintendent of the Transportation Department of Tata Steel who was a great hockey player himself, along with Jimmy Thomas who was a teacher at St. Mary’s School, Bistupur and also a hockey player from St. Mary’s Club, Bistupur.