Seven outstation teams, including last year’s champion BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited) and runners-up Indian Oil, will be the main contenders for the top prize of Rs 3 lakhs in the Dabang Mumbai – 50th All India Bombay Gold Cup hockey tournament, which is scheduled to commence at the MHAL-Mahindra Stadium from December 7 to 16, 2015. The event will be conducted under the auspices of Hockey India.Air India, Army XI, CAG (Comptroller & Auditors General), Hockey Bhopal and South Central
Railway are the five outfits from outside Mumbai that will be seen in action in this prestigious hockey tournament, that is celebrating its Golden Jubilee. The local challenge will be come from Western Railway, Indian Navy and three qualifiers.
Addressing media persons at a press conference on Saturday, MHAL President, Mangha Singh Bakshi said: “Dabang Mumbai, the owners of the Mumbai franchise in the Hockey India League, has come forward to support the Gold Cup and would be the title sponsors. Union Bank of India and Bank of India are also associated with the event as the co-sponsors.”
MHAL Hon. Secretary Ram Singh Rathor pointed out that they postponed the tournament by a month on request from the title sponsors Dabang Mumbai. “Earlier we conducted the Bombay Gold Cup much earlier and last year it was held in November. But this year since Dabang Mumbai have come on board, they requested us (MHAL) to postpone the tournament to December as it would be closer to start of the HIL which is set to commence in January,” said Rathor.
The 12 teams have been divided into four groups of three each and the top two teams will qualify for the quarter-final (knockout).
The runners-up would get Rs 1.5 lakh. Besides the top two prizes there will also be individual cash awards of Rs 10,000 each for the Player of the tournament, Best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and forward.
The quarter-final and semi final rounds will be played on December 13 and 15 and the grand finale on Wednesday, December 16.
Hockey India has appointed 12 officials, five from the city and seven from out of Mumbai, to officiate and ensure the smooth conduct of this tournament. Mr. H.S.Sokhi from Kolkata has been appointed as Tournament Director and Mr. Varinder Singh from Delhi as Umpires Manager.
