According to the draw released by Chandigarh Hockey Association secretary S N Vohra, 25 teams are taking part in the tournament which will conclude on October 5. In the opening match Shivalik Club will face Chandigarh Police and their winners will meet Ropar Hawks in the next round.

Star-studded Air India have been put in the upper half of the draw while formidable Punjab and Sind Bank are in the lower half.

This will be probably first time that strong Punjab Police team will begin their campaign by meeting the winners of the first-round between Bhopal XI and Rail Coach Factory. Earlier, the former holders used to get bye straight into the quarter-final.

The team taking part in the tournament are: Air India, Shivalik Club, Chandigarh Police, Ropar Hawks, Customs, Faridkot XI, Air Force, PSEB, sind Bank Academy, Bhopal XI, RCF, Chandigarh XI, Signals, Assam Rifles, Western Railway, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, ASC, Southern Centre Railway, Sikh Centre, DLW Varanasi, Northern Railway and Punjab and Sind Bank.

SS Saini has been appointed technical director and Avtar Singh Kohli will be the observer of the Indian Hockey Federation.

The umpires who will supervise the matches are: Rajinder Gandhi, Cladius, D S Bhandari, RS Sodhi, Harbans Singh, Satinder Sharma and Dharamvir Singh.

According to organising secretary S N Vohra, special prizes will be awarded to the best goalkeeper, best fullback, best half and best forward.

CBSE sports
The Central Board of Secondary Education Inter-School football and volleyball tournament for boys and girls under-18 will be conducted by DAV School, Sector 8 from September 27 to 30.

Giving this information here today, Principal Ravinder Talwar said that the football matches would be held at DAV- 8 ground while the volleyball competition would be organised at Sector 7 Sports Complex, Sector 7.

Y P Katyal, joint secretary CBSE, Chandigarh will inaugurate the tournament.