It is official! Surjit Hockey to begin from October 11

The cash prize money for the 29th Indian Oil Servo Surjit Singh Hockey Tournament commencing from October 11 has been raised from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6.25 lakh.

The cash prize money for the 29th Indian Oil Servo Surjit Singh Hockey Tournament, commencing from October 11, has been raised from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6.25 lakh.

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Interacting with mediapersons, deputy commissioner Priyank Bharati, who is also the president of the Surjit Hockey Society, said two teams from Pakistan — Punjab-XI, Lahore, and Sialkot-XI — will be the main attraction of the tournament, while 11 top teams from across India will participate in the tournament.

Jalandhar sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Iqbal Singh Sandhu, who is the organising secretary of the tournament, said that with the enhanced prize money, the winning team would get a cash prize of Rs 3.50 lakh, instead of last year's Rs 2.50 lakh, the runners-up will pocket Rs 2.50 lakh, as against last year's Rs 1.50-lakh cash prize.

The other participating teams include last year's champions Air India, runners-up IndianOil, Punjab and Sind Bank, Namdhari-XI, Border Security Force (BSF), Bharat Petroleum, Rail Coach Factory, EME, Punjab Police, Punjab National Bank, Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) and Cops of Signal, Army-XI.

The semi-final and final matches of the tournament will be broadcast live on PTC Channel on October 18 and 19 and All India Radio, Jalandhar, will also relay the running commentary of the final match.

Renowned Punjabi folk singer Gurdas Maan will perform before the start of the final match on October 19. Punjab local bodies minister Chuni Lal Bhagat will inaugurate the tournament.