Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Dec 15: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur on Wednesday inaugurated the launched first edition of Khelo India U-21 Women’s Hockey League at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, Delhi.
“If Leagues are established across the country before participation in big events, it helps athletes to play around the year,” said Anurag Thakur.
“I congratulate Hockey India & SAI for giving an opportunity to young women hockey players. There’ll be a cash prize of Rs 15 Lakhs,” he added.
Delhi: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur launched Khelo India U21 Women’s Hockey League at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium this morning. MoS (Sports) Nisith Pramanik and President of Indian Olympic Association Narinder Dhruv Batra were also present. pic.twitter.com/wkzNVjmGmT
— ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2021
Notably, the league will be organized from December 15 to December 21. The league will be organized by the Sports Authority of India in collaboration with Hockey India. In total 14 team will participate and first match will be between Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High performance Centre, Bhubaneswar and Raja Karan Hockey Academy, Karnal. The second phase of the tournament will be held at the SAI Centre in Lucknow, before the teams move to the Kalinga Stadium Bhubaneswar, for the climactic stage.
MoS (Sports) Nisith Pramanik and President of Indian Olympic Association Narinder Dhruv Batra were also present in the inauguration.
Group A: India Juniors, Sports Authority of India B, New Delhi; Odisha Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre, Bhubaneswar; Khalsa Hockey Academy, Amritsar; Mumbai Schools Sports Association, Raja Karan Hockey Academy and Him Academy, Vikas Nagar (Himachal Pradesh).
Group B: Sports Authority of India A, New Delhi; Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy, Bhopal; Har Hockey Academy, Sonipat; Jai Bharat Hockey Academy, Delhi; Pritam Siwach Hockey Academy, Sonipat; Sports Hostel, Bhubaneswar and Delhi Hockey.