The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Murugappa Gold Cup is country's richest event

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005

Sport

Sport - Hockey

Murugappa Gold Cup is country's richest event

By Our Hockey Correspondent

CHENNAI, APRIL 12. A bonanza of Rs. 1.30 lakhs awaits the winner of the Madras Cricket Club-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament on April 24.

In a spontaneous gesture while answering a question on rewards at a media briefing on Monday, Mr. A. Vellayan, Director, (External Affairs), Murugappa Group, enhanced the prize money from Rs. 75,000 to Rs. 1.25 lakhs, and within half an hour further hiked it to Rs. 1.30 lakhs for the winner to make the prestigious annual competition the biggest prize money event on the Indian domestic hockey calendar. The hike for the runner-up is Rs. 80,000 from Rs. 50,000.

Heartening as the impromptu response was, the on the spot announcement only went to underscore the enthusiasm and commitment of the members of the Murugappa Group towards promoting sport, especially, hockey.

Forced to be in the limbo last year on account of the renovation and re-laying of the synthetic pitch at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, the Murugappa Gold Cup tournament goes on the starting block on Thursday, preceded by the traditional opening match between Madras Cricket Club and The Hindu tomorrow (Wednesday).

"Doing our bit," was how Mr. Vellayan quantified the role of Murugappa Group in keeping alive an important event in the state's sports programme. Every edition brings forth a few innovations to enhance the competitive value of the event. And this time is no exception.

The IHF Juniors, which won the Cup in 2003, will be defending it.

The quarterfinal encounters are scheduled on April 20 and 21, the semifinals on April 23, (April 22 will be a rest day) and the final on Sunday (April 24).

Air India takes on Tamil Nadu XI in the first match, while Railways meets Mumbai in the next tie on April 14.

The IHF has nominated six outstation umpires. Mr. Ramchander Rao of Hyderabad will be the Tournament Director.

The pools: A: Indian Airlines, Army XI and MEG, Bangalore. B: IOC, Air India and Tamil Nadu XI. C: Indian Railways, Bharath Petroleum and Mumbai XI. D: IHF Juniors, Border Security Force and Karnataka XI.