Junior boys’ state hockey tournament kicks off in Coimbatore

Coimbatore: The junior state hockey tournament for under-19 boys began in the city on Monday.The Tamil Nadu hockey association and the Coimbatore district hockey association are jointly organising the junior men's inter-district hockey tournament from April 28 to May 2 in Coimbatore and Tirupur. As many as 35 teams from across the state are taking part in the tournament, which is being conducted on a league-cum-knockout basis.The league phase of the tournament is scheduled to be held in Coimbatore and Tirupur. The teams have been divided into eight groups, and the top teams from each group will qualify for the quarterfinals. The best players from the tournament will be selected to represent Tamil Nadu in the upcoming national-level hockey tournament.Officials from the Coimbatore district hockey association said that the tournament is being organised in the city after a gap of 29 years. They added that the newly inaugurated hockey turf in R S Puram has opened the doors for hosting such tournaments and encouraging young talents to take up the sport.Moreover, the tournament will serve as an important platform for selecting the Tamil Nadu team for the 16th national junior championship. The matches will be held in accordance with the rules and regulations of Hockey India, ensuring a high standard of competition. Members of the state selection committee will be closely monitoring the performance of players to identify talented athletes who will represent Tamil Nadu at the national level.