Now Shahbad is one of 20-odd Indian towns that have a synthetic hockey playfield. Incidentally, this is one town that has produced captains of both Indian men and women teams. As chance would have it, both have the same name. The men’s skipper has been famous drag flicker Sandeep Singh while Sandeep Kaur led India’s women team. And again it has been Shahbad girl, Surinder Kaur that led India from front to help it win the first Champions Challenger II in Kazan, Russia, on June 27.
Though Haryana cannot match the contribution of its neighbour Punjab in the field of hockey but it has earned a name for itself during the past 16 years, producing 27 women and six men players who represented India in various international tournaments, including Olympic games, World Cups, Asia Cup and Asian Games.
Until early 1990s, the town did not have even basic facilities, including a hockey field. One of private schools had an uneven and unkempt playfield. Both girls and boys, mostly from poor families, not only worked hard to convert it into a lushful green hockey playfield but also made their presence felt with some superb performances in the tournaments they played. Be it schools tournaments or even state and national championships. They earned a niche for themselves because of their superb ball control skills, delectable body swerves and their commitment to the game.
Though Haryana cannot match the contribution of its neighbour Punjab in the field of hockey but it has earned a name for itself during the past 16 years, producing 27 women and six men players who represented India in various international tournaments, including Olympic games, World Cups, Asia Cup and Asian Games.
Until early 1990s, the town did not have even basic facilities, including a hockey field. One of private schools had an uneven and unkempt playfield. Both girls and boys, mostly from poor families, not only worked hard to convert it into a lushful green hockey playfield but also made their presence felt with some superb performances in the tournaments they played. Be it schools tournaments or even state and national championships. They earned a niche for themselves because of their superb ball control skills, delectable body swerves and their commitment to the game.
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