Five day national under 14 hockey tournament dedicated to Nelson Mandela

RANCHI: A five-day national level U-14 hockey championship was inaugurated at Birsa Munda Astroturf stadium on Sunday. But it was devoid of the fanfare and hoopla that usually accompanies such an event.
This comes at a time when the Indian government has announced a nationwide condolence in the remembrance of the only foreign Bharat Ratna Nelson Madela.
A total of 24 teams in the women's category and 21 teams in the men's category from 28 states, including Jharkhand, participated in this tournament.
The matches will be played in four grounds, which include Hulhundu, Baraitu, Birsa Munda football stadium and Birsa Munda Astroturf stadium at Morhabadi.
Chief guest Dadan Choubey, director of the sports department of the state, said, "We are dedicating this tournament to the Bharat Ratna Awardee Nelson Mandela, who sacrificed his entire life fighting for the rights of the people. He was a true inspiration for us and will continue to inspire us."
When asked about the condition of the stadium, Choubey said, "Every stadium has some flaws. Everything will be fixed before the event. So I would request the people to have faith in us and not to make it a big issue. We are trying our best."
On the opening day, eight matches under the women's category and four in men's category were being played in three grounds. Sangita Kumari from the state scored seven goals, which included a hat-trick against Odisha in which Jharkhand won by 20-0. In the women's category, Delhi, UP, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Haryana, Maharastra, Chattisgarh and Odisha emerged as winners.
On the other hand, in the men's category Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jahrkahnd emerged as winners.