Hockey will improve in India, Under-17, Under-19 level regional tournaments will start
New Delhi. President Dilip Tirkey said that in a drive to develop the game at the grassroots level, Hockey India is planning to start regional level tournaments in sub-junior (U-17) and junior (U-19) categories across the country. Reiterating the importance of the national championship, Tirkey, who has played 400 international matches for the country, said there is a need to introduce a zonal system at the grassroots level so that budding players get to play more and more matches.
Former Indian captain Tirkey said in Hockey India’s ‘podcast series’ ‘Hockey Pe Charcha’, “It is important to develop them at the grassroots level for the development of any game.” Strong foundations produce good players and build strong senior and junior national teams. ,
He said, “In the past, players in the sub-junior (U-17) and junior (U-19) categories did not get to play many matches. We will improve this by introducing zonal system of tournaments in which they play ‘intra zone’ and ‘inter zone’ competitions.
