IN A joint venture, Nagpur District Amateur Cycle Polo Association, All Maharashtra Cycle Polo Association and Cycle Polo Federation of India will be organising 44th Senior Men, 24th Senior Women, 38th Sub-Junior Boys and 42nd Junior Boys National Cycle Polo Championships from March 28 to 30. Addressing a press conference, Gajanan Burde, General Secretary, Organising Committee, National Cycle Polo Championships said, “Nagpur will be hosting three-day national championships which will be conducted in four categories. The championship will be held at Darshan Colony Library ground in Nandanvan. “The championship will be inaugurated on March 28 at 9 am. For this tournament a total of 29 teams including teams from defence services will be taking part. Defending champions Indian Army and team from Karnataka have already arrived in city.

 

The other two team of defence which will take part are Indian Air Force and Territorial Army.” Burde added, “The winners, runners-up and third place teams will be honoured with attractive trophies and medals. At the same time, certificates will be given to all the players and officials participating in the tournament. “The tournament will be played on knock-out basis and around 24 to 26 matches will be played in a day. Probables for Indian team which will take part in the upcoming Asian and World Cycle Polo Championships will be chosen from this competition.” Divisional Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari, District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar, Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Singal, Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari and Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjay Patil have been invited for the inauguration and prize distribution ceremonies of the competition.

 

President of Indian Cycle Polo Federation Air Marshal (Retd) Pradeep Bapat; Dr Vinod Jaiswal, President, Nagpur District Amateur Cycle Polo Association; Dr SR Lunge, Sanjay Tijare, Chandrakant Tijare and Dinesh Sarve were present during the presser. Apart from the above dignitaries, Uttam Itankar, Dr NT Deshmukh, Milind Patle, Pralay Pillewar, Raj Banait, Mahendra Kawle, Jay Uke and Mohit Khobragade are among those who are working hard for the event.