Maximum promotion to sportspersons in state: CS

Bhopal: Chief Secretary Shri Anthony de Sa inaugurated National Women’s Hockey A Division matches at local Aishbagh stadium here today. Matches for B Division are being held from March 13 to 19 and A Division from March 19 to 23. As many as 600 women hockey players of 30 teams are participating in the competition. Two semi-final matches of B Division were held today in which Himachal beat New Delhi and Assam beat Tamil Nadu.

The Chief Secretary got introduction of captains of all teams. He wished players for best performance. The Chief Secretary also witnessed first A Division match between Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Shri de Sa said that various sports including hockey are being promoted in Madhya Pradesh. Women players are also being promoted. Men’s Hockey Academy was opened in year 2007 whereas Women’s Hockey Academy was opened a year earlier in 2006 at Gwalior. In the state, 9 academies are honing skills of players in 16 types of sports. Shri de Sa said that inclusion of Madhya Pradesh’s 6 players in Indian hockey team is great importance. He congratulated the Sports Department for this event. At the outset, Director Sports Shri V.K. Singh delivered the welcome address. It was informed on the occasion that Astroturf facility is available in 5 stadiums in Madhya Pradesh including Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Betul and Seoni.