Top outfits for Bombay Gold Cup hockey tournament

Mumbai: The Bombay Gold Cup hockey tournament, celebrating its Golden Jubilee, is to be held at the MHAL-Mahindra Stadium here from December 7-16.

Twelve teams, including seven from outside Mumbai, are to compete for the top prize of Rs 3 lakh, it was announced at a media conference on Saturday.

The list of outstation teams includes defending champions Bharat Petroleum and last year's runners-up Indian Oil, besides Air India, Army XI, CAG, Hockey Bhopal and South Central Railway.

The local challenge will be spearheaded by Western Railway and Indian Navy.

The teams, including three qualifiers, would be divided into four groups of three each to spot the eight quarter finalists.

The quarters and semi finals would be held on December 13 and 15, followed by the summit contest.

Runners-up would get Rs 1.5 lakh while there would be separate cash prizes for the player of the tournament, best goalkeeper, defender, half back and forward in the tournament.

"Dabang Mumbai, the owners of the Mumbai franchise in the Hockey India League, would be the title sponsors while Union Bank of India and Bank of India are the co-sponsors," said Mumbai Hockey Association Limited's president Mangha Singh Bakshi.

"We wanted to hold this tournament in September but the title sponsors wanted it to be postponed to December to create some sort of momentum ahead of the HIL in January," said MHAL's secretary Ram Singh Rathor.

Treasurer Bal Govind Chokhani said the tournament is budgeted to cost between Rs 20 and 25 lakh, including the prize money.

Hockey India has appointed 12 officials, including seven from outside the city, to oversee the conduct of the tournament.

H S Sokhi, from Bengal, is the tournament director.