Chandigarh: The Punjab government has chalked out a long term plan to restore lost pride of Indian hockey in international arena and to again make Punjab a nursery for National hockey. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Punjab, who is also hold the office for the sports ministry of the state visited hockey stadiums in London to have a look at modern infrastructure that could be provided to the hockey players in Punjab.

Accompanied by Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Finance Minister and Pargat Singh, MLA and Former Olympian, the sport minister said that he was hurt by the lacklustre performance of Indian hockey team in London Olympics and has approved Rs.418 crore plan to strengthen the sports infrastructure in the state besides nurturing budding sports talent right from a very tender age

Badal who is also president of Punjab hockey said that it was Punjab state that brought Olympics glory for the country and he was committed to restore Punjab’s old glory in the hockey.

Badal also met the top officials of the International Hockey Federation.

Divulging the details of long term plan, Badal said that seven hockey stadiums with world class Astroturfs have already been constructed and seven more are in the pipeline and would be completed in a span of three years.

He said that upcoming Mohali hockey stadium would be provided blue and pink Astroturf used for the London Olympics and was committed to provide infrastructure facilities to the players for 2016 Rio Olympics.

Focusing on nurturing budding talent in hockey, Badal said that Surjit Hockey Society would provide residential facilities to 60 sub-junior players and Punjab government would provide support Surjit Hockey in this noble endeavour.