All India Inter-varsity hockey in Mumbai

Mumbai: Mumbai Univerisity`s MMK College of Commerce and Economics will host the All India Inter-varsity

men`s hockey tournament from January 10-16, 2011 and would be preceded by the West Zone event to spot four qualifiers. Four qualifiers from each of the four geographical zones of the country would take part in the knock-out-cum-league all India tournament, it was announced at a media conference. From the West, 32 varsities from the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Goa and parts of Madhya Pradesh from January 3-9 would compete to make the all India grade. Matches would be held at four venues in Mumbai, three of them on natural grass plus the artificial turf at the Mumbai Hockey Association`s Mahindra Stadium, it was announced. MMK College principal Dr A C Vanjani said that the budgeted expenditure for the two tournaments is Rs 20 lakh with Rs 51,000 earmarked in prize money. Mumbai Varsity`s Director of Physical Education, Dr U N Kendre, said that efforts were on to hold most of the matches of the all India event on the Mahindra Stadium`s synthetic turf. "This is the first time in its history that Mumbai University is playing host to the All India inter varsity hockey tournament. We would make efforts to hold the women`s tournament too in the near future," he said. From South Zone, Madras University, Annamalai University, SRAM and Bharitiyar Univerisity have already qualified for the inter zonals, he said adding the north and east zonals are currently on. PTI