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BHA elections: former players in fray

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Olympians M.M. Somaya, Joaquim Carvalho, internationals Gurbax Singh Grewal and Puran Singh have entered the fray in the Bombay Hockey Association (BHA) elections scheduled to be held on June 29.

Gurbax is contesting for the post of Secretary, while the other three for places in the Managing Committee as part of a panel headed by Manga Singh Bakshi.

“We hope to make a difference by making hockey popular again in schools and clubs, apart from working towards making the Mumbai team one of India’s best,” said former India captain Somaya, about the reason for former India players attempting to enter hockey administration.

The focus

Carvalho said the focus will be on laying the second artificial turf, replacing the existing one at the Mahindra Stadium and installing floodlights. “Mumbai needs two turfs to fulfil FIH stipulations for holding international competitions.

“We have already identified land in the suburbs for a hockey venue and sponsors will extend financial support as long as feasible proposals are put forward. We will try to get the Nationals here,” he said at a media briefing. Somaya and Carvalho played together for India at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and were part of the team management for the Beijing Olympics qualifiers.

Key objective

Gurbax, former Western Railway men’s hockey coach and current administrator at Khalsa College, pointed out that restoring Mumbai’s position as one of Indian hockey hotspots will be the key objective.

B.G. Chokhani, Treasurer in the present BHA Managing Committee, was confident of support from the Mumbai Cricket Association and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. “When the issue of money to replace the worn-out Mahindra Stadium turf came up during a meeting between BHA and MCA officials, Mr. Pawar wanted to know the cost. We told him about an estimate of Rs. 2.5 crore and he assured us about assistance in the matter.”

Hockey umpires Peter Menezes, Ranji Dalvi and umpire-cum-administrator P.S. Sujlana are also among the contestants.

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