Jalandhar, 7 Dec, 2025(Yes Punjab News)
The 19th Balwant Singh Kapoor Memorial Hockey Tournament was inaugurated by Rajya Sabha member and environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, located in Balton Park. Sant Seechewal began the match by hitting the ball to kick off the competition between the two teams. While sharing his thoughts as the chief guest, he mentioned that he is a huge fan of hockey and has even played the sport himself. He appreciated the Kapoor family for organizing this national-level tournament every year and said that it is no less than an achievement to have successfully held this tournament for 19 years.
Sant Seechewal recalled the golden era of Indian hockey, saying that during the time when hockey matches were played on grass fields, the Indian hockey team consistently won Olympic gold medals. It was also the time when eight players from rural areas of Punjab were part of the hockey team. He emphasized the need to prioritize rural areas even today, as exceptional players can emerge from these regions.
He further explained that AstroTurf has been installed in Seechewal, which boosts the morale of the players. He stressed that even villages should have AstroTurf sports grounds. Sant Seechewal expressed concern about the environmental condition of Punjab, mentioning that the air quality is deteriorating, which affects human health. This pollution is also impacting the performance of athletes. Referring to the water situation in Punjab, he stated that there was a time when the water in Punjab was stronger than milk, but now the polluted water is causing cancer and other dangerous diseases.
Sant Seechewal officially launched the hockey tournament by waving its flag and blessing the players of both teams. He encouraged the players to participate with a spirit of sportsmanship and to give their best on the field.
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