AG Nagpur to recruit hockey players after 14 years

By Principal Correspondent

THE last time a hockey player got recruited in Accountant General (AG) was way back in 1997. After 14 long years, the one-time champions of League tournament has decided to conduct hockey trials and select five hockey players.
The selection trials started on Monday at Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) ground. A total of seven sportspersons will be selected through sports quota. Hockey got the major share as per their requirement. Football would be getting one and table tennis one.
Accountant General Recreation Club (AGRC) that used to play in local league and district tournament stopped taking part in the league due to paucity of players. The veterans stopped playing and those interested found it difficult to find fresh legs for a tournament. But now the scene would change.
The first day of the two-day trials saw 45 aspirants taking part. The trials would continue on Tuesday morning too. “Football trials would be held at Motibag ground on February 15 while selection for table tennis would be held in 16th. List of all seven selected players would be out within a week’s time,” informed AR Deshpande, Welfare Officer, Audit Office, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’.
Vinod Gavai, secretary, Vidarbha Hockey Association lauded the move by the government department. “It’s a great news for hockey in the region. From next season we would get one more competitive team for our league. Above all it would be beneficial for players who are in search of job. Recruitment in most of the government departments were nil and with AG starting it, sports recruitment would get a boost. It will also help budding players to take sports.”