Gill inaugurates highest hockey astroturf at Shilaroo

Shilaroo: Sports Minister M S Gill on Tuesday inaugurated country`s highest astroturf hockey field at

the high altitude training centre of Sports Authority of India here. The Rs 3.5 crore astroturf located at an altitude of 8,500 feet would be equipped to provide training facilities to hockey players who also can have camps during summer months. Speaking on the occasion, Gill said that he has been apprised of the importance of the high altitude training centre located at about 55 km from Shimla and assured that more facilities would be provided for training of players. SAI had spent over Rs five core during the last two years to develop the infrastructure at this centre and there was also a proposal to construct 200m six-lane synthetic althetics track and a gymnasium. Lauding the effort of Vidya Stokes, president of Hockey India, in setting up this centre in 1986 and recalling his days as Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul and Spiti in early 1950s, Gill said, "Himachal had made great progress and emerged a model state after Kerala and surpassed even Punjab and Haryana in the field of literacy." PTI