10 teams to compete in Murugappa hockey

Chennai: Karnataka is the only state association invited apart from nine institutional teams for

the 86th All India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey tournament beginning here from Thursday. Regulars like Mumbai, Bihar and Punjab, major hockey playing states in the country had not been invited to compete in the tournament which offers prize money of Rs.2.50 lakhs and Rs.1.50 lakhs to the top two finishers respectively. Tournament Organising Secretary Sanjay Gulvady told reporters that there is no general reason for not inviting teams like Mumbai and Bihar or Punjab. There was no criteria for it. We decided to invite the best teams in the country. Chennai League Champion side also used to be regulars but we have not invited them," he said. Saying that for the first time the top players in the Indian team now would not be seen in action, Gulvady said ?the national team is presently on a European tour. Also, Indian Airlines and Air India players would also be missed since they are to compete in a tournament in Canada during the same time of our event. Arun Murugappan Managing Director, Parry Enterprises Limited of the Murugappa Group, said ?the tournament is the oldest in the country, next only to the All India Beighton Cup being held in Kolkata. MCC and Murugappa joined hands to conduct the event since 1996, when the tournament was considered a selection criteria for choosing the Indian team. Sixteen players spotted to represent the country went on to win Gold Medal in 1998 Bangkok Asian Games. Mohammed Muneer, Tournament Director, said the teams had been split into two groups of five each and the top two in each would figure in the Semi final and the final would be held on July 25. Two minutes suspension for players following a warning (green card) during a match will be in force in the tournament. This will help better control of the match?, he said. Following are the groupings: Group-A: Army XI, ONGC, Karnataka, Indian Railways, Namdhari XI and Group-B: Indian Oil, Hockey India (Jr.), BPCL, Southern Railway and Punjab National Bank. PTI