*J&K Police has deep commitment not only to sports but through sports to the citizens of J&K: DGP
Great joy and pride for being part of opening ceremony: Dilip Tirkey
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 30: The 72nd All India Police Hockey Championship being held at Astro Turf K.K. Hakku Stadium Jammu kicked off with a vibrant and colourful opening ceremony. President of Hockey India, former captain of Indian Hockey team, Padma Shri Awardee, Olympian & Arjuna Awardee, Dilip Tirkey was the Chief Guest who declared the championship open. Director General of Police J&K R.R. Swain was the guest of honour on the occasion. At the very outset the Chief Guest, DGP J&K and other dignitaries paid floral tributes to the legendary hockey wizard Dhyan Chand.
Dilip Tirkey expressed great joy and pride for being part of the opening ceremony of 72nd All India Hockey Championship and celebrating this lively ceremony with the citizens, participants and officers & officials of Jammu and Kashmir Police. Complimenting the All India Police Sports Control Board for taking initiative and efforts in promoting hockey in India, he said that Police forces from different States/UTs have given great players to the Indian hockey team. He appreciates the efforts of Jammu and Kashmir Police for promoting 25 different kinds of sports and complimented it for hosting All India Police Hockey championship fourth time.
Tirkey said that hockey was the only sport which brought laurels for the country between 1928 to 1960 in the Olympics. Hockey has made a special place in sports not only in India but also in the world, he added. He said that efforts are being made to the fullest to revive the hockey in India for which hockey India leagues and tournaments are being organised that will provide a platform for the budding hockey players to play alongside with top international players. He recalled that in the year 2000 he was adjudged as the player of the tournament while taking part in the National Hockey Championship organised here in the KK Hakku Stadium Jammu and as such the venue and city of Jammu has a special place in his heart.
DGP J&K, R.R Swain praised Dilip Tirkey, President of Hockey India, for accepting the invitation to attend the ceremony on a short notice. Lauding Tirkey as a true sports enthusiast and a humble person, the DGP said that J&K Police and the citizens of the UT are proud of his presence at the opening ceremony of the mega event. The DGP also expressed his gratitude to Aditya Kumar, Observer from AIPSCB New Delhi, Rizwan Khan of Maharashtra as Tournament Director.
He further highlighted the fact that the J&K Police has successfully hosted as many as 16 national-level police events over the years. Underlining the role, the J&K Police has been playing in promoting sports and fostering a sense of unity, the DGP said that J&K Police is the backbone in sports for the UT and this force has deep commitment not only to the sports but through the sports to the citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. He also expressed his gratitude to the organizing secretary, ADGP Armed, and his team for efficient efforts in organizing this mega event.
Besides the oath ceremony and scintillating march past by the participating teams, the opening ceremony also featured a captivating cultural program in which artists performed regional songs, which set the tone for this prestigious sports event. On the opening day, two matches were held between West Bengal Police and Telangana Police in which West Bengal Police won by 8-1 while in the second match played between Pondicherry Police and Jharkhand Police in which Jharkhand Police won by 4-3 goals.
Special DG Crime J&K, A. K. Choudhary, ADGP’s M.K Sinha, Sunil Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Anand Jain, IGP (Hqrs) PHQ B.S Tuti, Aditya Kumar Observer from AIPSCB New Delhi, Surinder Kaur (Arjuna Awardee) of Haryana Police, Birendra Lakra (Olympian) of Odisha Police, Rizwan Khan of Maharashtra as Tournament Director, Ripu Daman Sharma of Punjab as Umpires’ Manager, Gurdeep Singh Sangral President Hockey J&K, Supinder Deep Singh Bakshi General Secretary Hockey J&K, DIG’s, SSP’s, Jammu based IR/JKAP Commandants, AIG’s of PHQ and a galaxy of other senior police/paramilitary officers attended the opening ceremony.
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