Hyderabad to host the ‘Gooncha 57th Nehru Senior Hockey Tournament’, for the first-time outside Delhi!

Press Release

• 15-11-2021

Hyderabad : The '57th Gooncha Nehru Senior Hockey Tournament,' (GNSHT); being hosted by Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament Society's (JNHTS) and sponsored by Gooncha Estates Pvt Ltd, part of the Hyderabad based Gooncha Group; was formally Inaugurated by Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Hon’ble Principal Secretary, I&C and IT, Govt. of Telangana and President, Telangana Olympic Association; at South Central Railway Sports Complex, on Sunday. Hyderabad has the privilege of hosting the first ever Nehru Tournament outside of New Delhi. The Senior Tournament is being conducted at Hyderabad as a tribute to Shri Inder Mohan Kapur Ji, the Founding Father of Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament Society and Gooncha Group. The inauguration was followed by the first knockout round match between RCF, Kapurthala and Tamil Nadu XI. RCF won the match by 3-2 and will now play against the winner of the second knock out match in pool ‘A’, day after tomorrow, to qualify and join the seeded teams in the Quarter Final League.

The Tournament kickstarting on November 14th, 2021; will conclude on November 23rd, 2021. Spanning over ten days, the tournament will witness 22 matches in all, including an exhibition match. Some of the star-studded top teams in the country will be vying for the coveted ‘Inder Mohan Kapur Nehru Senior Winners' Cup.'

Top 14 brass Hockey teams of the Nation, including six seeded teams, Punjab National Bank, Indian Oil and Army XI in Pool 'A' and Punjab & Sind Bank, Indian Railways, and CAG XI, in Pool ‘B’ and eight non-seeded teams of Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala (RCF); Tamil Nadu XI; Mumbai XI and South Central Railway in Pool 'A' and Indian Airforce; Telangana XI; Indian Navy and Delhi XI, in Pool ‘B'; are participating in the Tournament. The non-seeded teams, four each in Pool 'A’ and Pool 'B' will compete in the preliminary knock out rounds between November 14th and 16th, 2021. One team from each Pool will qualify and join the seeded teams in the Quarter Final League. The Quarter Final League will be played on a Round Robin basis, between November 16th and 21st, 2021. The two semi-finals will be played on November 22nd, 2021, and the finals will be held on November 23rd, 2021.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Jayesh Ranjan said, it’s a matter of great satisfaction that the 57th Gooncha Nehru Senior Hockey Tournament, came to Hyderabad, after 56 years of it being held in Delhi, it’s a matter of great pride for all of us in Hyderabad. Apart from my official responsibilities, I am also the president of the Telangana Olympic Association, hockey is one of our priority sports and the ability to host such a prestigious tournament here in Hyderabad is of immense joy and satisfaction. We know that the popularity of hockey is at its peak now, our Indian team did so well in the recently concluded Olympics, both the men’s team and the men’s team of course won a historic medal, the women’s team was also not far behind. The tide is turning towards hockey, with so much of enthusiasm, even the small local tournaments that happen in Hyderabad are well attended, well patronized. Such a prestigious tournament happening in Hyderabad will give further boost to all the aspirations. We do have some great players who played for the country at the international level, national level coming to Hyderabad to participate here and encourage the sport, promoting the sport, run coaching camps etc. The fact this tournament is being held in Hyderabad will garner more encouragement and enthusiasm. Delighted some of the topmost teams of the country are participating in this tournament. 

Earlier Shri Jayesh Ranjan, unfurled the national flag with Shri Yash Bharwani, Executive Director, Gooncha Group and Vice-Chairman, Organising Committee, GNSHT, escorting him to the podium and was followed by the singing of the National Anthem. The inaugural Ceremony had a colorful display of plethora of traditional Indian dance forms from the North, South, East and West of India, performed by leading dancers, showcasing the rich, diverse, and exuberant culture and heritage of our great nation. Shri Jayesh Ranjan, spoke of the grand legacy of Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament Society and its role in popularizing the national game, hockey. He paid rich tributes to the Founding Father, Shri I.M. Kapur Ji for his foresight and immense contributions to society.

The winners of the tournament will be presented the Inder Mohan Kapur Nehru Senior Winners trophy, made of pure silver and plated in gold and a prize money of Rs 4 Lakhs; the runners-up will get the Inder Mohan Kapur Nehru Senior Runners-Up Cup and win a purse of Rs 2 Lakhs. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will be awarded a brand new Benelli Imperiale 400 (BS6) from M/s Gooncha Motors Pvt Ltd (part of the Gooncha Group). The 'player of the match' throughout the tournament will be given branded hockey sticks, sponsored by the Gooncha Group.

On this occasion, Shri Kukoo Walia, Secretary General, JNHTS; paid rich tributes to Shri Inder Mohan Kapur Ji and commended his immense contributions to not just the JNHTS but society at large. He went on to say that M/s Gooncha Estates Pvt Ltd has played a pivotal role in not just title sponsoring this year's senior tournament but also helping JNHTS restructure and modernise the Institution's style of working that included more sophisticated executionary methods, communication styles, rebranding and strategic expansion of Nehru Society, pan India. He congratulated Shri Yash Bharwani, on carrying forward his grandfather and the Founding Father, Shri Inder Mohan Kapur Ji's legacy by trying to the best of his capacities to be his rightful torchbearer. He also said that the Gooncha Group, as an organization has gone above and beyond in creating fortified mechanisms for the JNHTS' functioning and has also been a part executioner along with being the Title and Sole Sponsor of the Gooncha 57th Nehru Senior Hockey Tournament.

On this occasion, Shri Yash Bharwani, congratulated the entire Jawaharlal Nehru Hockey Tournament Society, and called this partnership historic. He expressed immense pride and honour to be the torch bearer of his grandfather's legacy, the Founding Father of the Gooncha Group and JNHTS. Mentioning the 'Inder Mohan Kapur Nehru Senior Winners & Runners-Up Cups' of the Senior Tournament and their recreation by melting the previous Nehru Senior Cups and recreating these using the same metal that was in circulation within the winning teams for 56 years, he called this exercise a befitting tribute. He also mentioned the founding of the JNHTS being the first Philanthropic Pursuit of Shri I.M. Kapur Ji’s and this Title Sponsorship marking Gooncha Group's first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative. He stated that this sponsorship is not just a service to Shri I.M. Kapur ji's society but also a further fueling exercise to our National game, Mr. Bharwani was humbled by the same.

Parminder, Manager, RCF, Kapurthala; said, delighted that our boys played very well, outsmarted the opponent Tamil Nadu XI team, and won us the match by 3-2, today. We are confident of continuing this winning spree, day after tomorrow against the winner of the second knock out match in pool A and join the seeded teams in the Quarter Final League.

Clement, Team Manager, Tamil Nadu XI; said, this India’s biggest hockey tournament and a privilege to be part of it. We lost to RCF, today, but we played an excellent match, the experience our players gained is immense.

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