Hockey India selector Olympian Syed Ali said, “Dhyan Chand stadium has hosted important tournaments like the Indira Gandhi Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in the past. The All India KD Singh ‘Babu’ hockey tournaments both at the senior and the sub-junior level are held here every year. It has also played host to senior women’s hockey nationals, etc. This year also All-India tourneys were held here. It is a wonderful stadium and on a new synthetic turf, tournaments can be organised in a better way. The good upkeep of such a beautiful stadium is a must.”

The state sports department also plans to have a synthetic turf in hockey at the newly constructed mini-stadium at Vijayant Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. Talking to The Indian Express, Deputy Director Sports (UP) and principal GGS Sports College, Lucknow, AK Banoda informed, “The new synthetic turf for Dhyan Chand stadium has arrived from USA. The work of laying the turf is expected to start in about a week. The estimated cost of the turf is Rs 2.46 crore. Once ready, the Dhyan Chand stadium will be all set to host prestigious tournaments. As far as the new chairs are concerned, Rs 8.5 lakh have already been released for the purpose.”

Regarding the synthetic hockey turf at Vijayant Khand mini-stadium, Banoda said, “We have sent a proposal regarding the same to Government of India as per a sports promotion scheme of the Central government. The new facility there will cost around Rs 4.5 crore.”

When asked whether a synthetic turf at Vijayant Khand was being laid only for training purpose as seating capacity around the ground seems to be a distant possibility due to paucity of space, Banoda claimed, “Everything will be in order. We will see how the seating space is taken out.”