Smartly dressed players on a newly-laid turf, bright floodlights and hectic activities. The hockey stadium came to life on Friday, on the eve of the Chief Minister Yeddyurappa Cup, an all-India invitational floodlight hockey tournament which gets underway from Saturday.
The tournament brings with it revolutionary changes which apart from making it viewer-friendly will also promote fair play and check the menace of violent behaviour, on and off the field.
Speaking about the rule, Olympian M.P Ganesh, the convener of the tournament said, “The organising committee has decided to impose monitory fine for abusive behaviour on and off the field as well as violent conduct by players, coaches and managers.”
According to the rules, team found to be violating the rules will be fined Rs. 25,000 and should be shared by the 18 players and team officials. The amount will have to be paid within one hour after the match.
The team which does not comply with the rules will be scratched from the tournament. Also, a red card will result in automatic suspension from the tournament and a team with two red cards during the tournament will be denied appearance fee and prize money.
The penalty corner rules too have been altered and there will be no direct hits and drag flicks.
In a bid to draw crowd to the stadium a one-hour entertainment has been planned between matches every evening.
In the first tournament to be held on the brand new turf, BPCL will start favourites with IOCL and Air India being the other favourites. One team to watch out for will be the Odisha XI, led by former Indian skipper Dilip Tirkey. The team comprises young players from sports hostels in the Sundergarh region of Orissa.