Hockey tournaments are far and in between now a days but the District Hockey Association is able to conduct one regularly for the last few years, thanks to the assistance from the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. The third Vizag Steel Cup tournament, with 12 teams participating in it including defending champion State Sports Hostel, Rourkela, is commencing at the Port stadium here on Friday. DHA conducted the first edition as Andhra State super league in 2009, followed by an invitation tournament in 2010 and after a gap of one year; the third edition is being played. The association is providing travel allowance and other facilities to the players and officials, its working presidents S.K.E. Appa Rao and T. Shanta Ram and secretary B. Gopala Krishna Rao informed at a press conference. The association is receiving a lot of help from the VPT, which is providing its stadium for conducting the tournaments and also accommodation for the players. The DHA could conduct some major tournaments like the senior National championship's phase I, an all-India invitation tournament for the Rednam Nagasai Cup in 1998, the South Zone senior National in 2002, the junior National in 2005 apart from its regular district meets, inter-district championships and invitation tournaments. Mr. Gopala Krishna Rao and Director of Physical Education of Andhra University would be felicitated during the inaugural and valedictory functions respectively.The tournament will be inaugurated by Director (personnel) of VSP Y.R. Reddy while president of DHA K. Krishna Kumar presides. General Manager (CSR) of VSP R. Sankar, CMO Of VPT G. Ramanjaneyulu, vice-president of DHA TSR Prasad and others will participate.
