Bhadradri Kothagudem: State-level hockey tourney begins

Bhadradri Kothagudem: The three-day State-level hockey tournament (under-19) of the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) commenced at Prakash Stadium here on Friday.

District Collector Rajath Kumar Shini and ZP Chairman Koram Kanakaiah have inaugurated the tournament and received guard of honour from all teams. As many as 18 teams including 8 girl teams from the 10 erstwhile districts in the State are taking part in the tourney.

Speaking on the occasion, the Collector made an appeal to hockey players to prove their skills and win the tournament. He appreciated the organisers for conducting a State-level tournament in the district. The ZP chief also wished all the best to players.

Briefing the tournament details, SGFI district secretary Battu Praveen Kumar said that for the first time a State-level hockey tournament is being held in Kothagudem. He said that a team which wins tourney would be participating in national-level tournament to be held in Pune in January. He stated free accommodation and boarding has been provided to all participating teams.