Oman Hockey: All set for Independence Day of India Hockey Festival

Sports Saturday 05/August/2017 21:25 PM
By: Times News Service
Oman Hockey: All set for Independence Day of India Hockey Festival

Muscat: With all arrangements in place, the organisers of the Independence Day of India Hockey Festival are looking forward to successfully host the 2017 edition of the much looked forward event on the Sultanate’s hockey calendar.
The annual event, organised by the Friends of Naqvi Group and Team Coorg under the patronage of Embassy of India and with the support of Oman Hockey Association, is scheduled to take place on August 11.
The organisers, who have been conducting hockey festivals to mark the Indian Republic Day, Independence Day and Dhyan Chand Trophy since 2005, have chalked out a detailed programme and invited popular names to make the 2017 edition of the Festival a grand affair.
According to the organisers Sushma Pandey, wife of Indian Ambassador Indramani Pandey, will preside over the event.
The organisers have also invited the top hockey officials from India, including Hockey India associate vice-president Devender Pratap Singh Tomar and Madhya Bharat Hockey Association manager Niranjan Singh Gurjar, as the guests of honour.
Dr. Wahid Al Kharusi, chairman of Oman Cancer Association who also served as the president of Asian Federation of Sports Medicine, Oman Hockey Association chief Talib Khamis Al Wahaibi, Indian Social Club chief Dr. Satish Nambiar, Yasser Abdullah Al Halwani, vice-chairman of Ahli-Sidab Club interim committee, and Oman Hockey Veterans member Mustafa Al Lawati will also grace the occasion as the guests of honour.
“Its a great honour to have Hockey India officials attending the celebrations and our Hockey Festival will hopefully lead to the Indian officials meeting the Omani officials to further strengthen the relations between the countries,” the organisers said.
“The Indian officials will arrive on August 9 and they are expected to stay in Oman till August 12,” they informed.
12th year in a row
One of the special attractions of this year’s edition is the participation of Team Coorg UAE, who will be competing in the event for the 12th year in a row.
The Festival will comprise two competitions Independence Day Cup and Ambassador’s Cup.
In the Independence Day Cup, UTSC Muscat, Team Coorg UAE, Team Coorg Muscat and Oman Veterans Hockey Team will vie for the top honours. In the Ambassador’s Cup, the Ambassador XI, Indian School Seeb and Indian School Mabella will be in action.
There will also be an women’s exhibition match between Indian School Al Seeb and Indian School Mabella teams.
While there will also be cultural events, including the national anthem recitation competition for children and a performance by Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir music band, the organisers, under the patronage of the Indian Embassy, will also be presenting the youth awards to the talented youngsters of the Indian community.
This year the awards will go to talented tennis and table tennis player Sanskar Dubey and athlete Antonio Thomas Biju.
This year’s Festival is mainly sponsored by Future Group of Companies and supported by Bank of Muscat, Khimji Group, Raha Poly Products, Oman United Insurance, Mohammed Rafiq and Partners, Al Ansari Group, Muscat Services LLC, Al Omaniya Financial Services, Future Plastics, Muscat Pharmacy (Pocari Sweat), Femec, Quality Printers and Oasis Water.