Rail hockey starts today

Post News Network

Bhubaneswar, Mar 9:  Orissa will host the All India Railway hockey championship for the first time with the matches being played at the Kalinga Stadium here March 10-13. According to a release by East Coast Railways, the league stage of the championship was played at Kapurthala, Punjab.

The eight teams who, qualified for the quarterfinals, are Central Railway, East Coast Railway, Eastern Railway, Northern Railway, Rail Coach Factory (Kapurthala), South Central Railway, Western Railway and West Central Railway, the release said.

More than 200 players and officials would attend the event. Quite a few national and international stars will be seen in action. Among them are Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Talwinder Singh, Yuvraj Walmiki, Devindar Sunil Walmiki, Affan Yousuf, Sushant Tirkey, Subodh Tirkey, David Minz, Anup, Amarpal Walmiki and Gaganpreet Singh. Definitely some fast-paced encounters are surely on the cards.

The championship will be inaugurated by Rajiv Vishnoi, GM, East Coast Railway. Orissa Governor SC Jamir will be the chief guest for the closing ceremony.