Chandigarh: The inaugural World Series Hockey (WSH) might have received strong resistance from Hockey India but it did find a supporter in sports ministry. The league which was expected to involve the national players have backed out of the league fearing ban from international arena because the league is non- sanctioned and FIH does not allow players to take part in rebel leagues.
Feeling delighted about WSH which is a joint initiative of Indian Hockey Federation and Nimbus Sport, Sports Minister Ajay Maken in a video message aired during the opening ceremony of the event said,”I congratulate the World Series Hockey and the Indian Hockey Federation for daring to dream and conducting such a grand hockey feast for the people of India and hockey players of the world.”
"We may have lost ground for some time but that's part and parcel of sports and life. The good news is that hockey is regaining ground and I'm very happy that the World Series Hockey is being held in India," Maken said.
"It gives me great pride to see as many as 8 world-class floodlight hockey stadiums in 8 cities across India are being used for the WSH. As India's Sports Minister it gives me great pride to announce that we are launching the first of its kind, a global league for the sport of hockey."
The event which started today in the Sector 42 Stadium here today would go on till April 2.
By Indian Sports News Network
