U and I Champions Trophy from today

By Our Sports Reporter

BANGALORE, APRIL 5. Indian hockey does have a few sunshine streaks. And close on the heels of an epochal triumph in the recent Prime Minister's Gold Cup at Dhaka, comes a domestic tournament with the highest prize money.

The inaugural U and I Champions Trophy in memory of Raghavendra Itigi commences at the Karnataka State Hockey Association (KSHA) Stadium here on Friday. The tournament has a total prize money of rupees ten lakh.

And the good news continues to flow. Dhanraj Pillay will play in the tournament. The ebony hued striker has got the clearance from his employers Mahindras and Mahindras and he will now play for Indian Airlines. ``Dhanraj is playing for us. He has gone to Mumbai to the get the NOC from Mahindras,'' said Indian Airlines coach Harender Singh. Mukesh Kumar, Ashish Ballal, Dilip Tirkey, Mohammad Riaz head the list of a slew of National stars who will don the Airline colours.

The tournament pits the country's leading ten teams, split into two pools, and the winner in the final on April 16 will get richer by rupees three lakh. ``This kind of money should have flown into the game earlier. Anyway it is good for the game,'' Dhanraj had said during the launch function of the tournament on Wednesday. And sponsors U and I Scotty Computers have firmed their stance with a `it-will-be-an-annual-event' pledge.

National Champions Indian Airlines drawn into Pool A will have to contend with Punjab and Sindh Bank, BPCL, CRPF and Karnataka. Punjab and Sindh Bank (PSB), busy with the Beighton Cup at Kolkata, is expected to arrive in the next couple of days. BPCL is beefed up with the presence of Jude Menezes, P.U. Bopanna, Sandeep Somesh and Ravi Nayak while the host has Arjun Halappa in its ranks. CRPF and PSB are capable of springing a surprise and Indian Airlines coach Harender Singh rightly said, ``all teams here are good and we have to play well.''

Punjab Police and Air India head the Pool B sweepstakes. The Dhillons - Baljit Singh and Daljit Singh - bolster Punjab Police while Ramandeep Singh is a notable absentee. For Air India, it is a case of flying high on confidence. Air India had downed Indian Airlines in the recent Bombay Gold Cup final. ``Both groups are evenly balanced,'' said coach Darryl D'Souza. And with the likes of Cornelius D'Costa and Anil Aldrin slated to play, Air India aims to cruise smooth. Tamil Nadu has Thirumalavalavan in its fold while Army XI and Indian Juniors are no pushovers.

The top two teams in Pool A and Pool B will clash in the semifinals and the summit clash will be held on April 16. The venue, slated to host three matches daily, is all pepped up with floodlights lending a glow to the day's third match.

On Friday, Karnataka takes on BPCL while Air India clashes with Army XI.

Pool A: Indian Airlines, New Delhi; Punjab and Sindh Bank, Jalandhar; BPCL, Mumbai; Karnataka XI; CRPF, New Delhi.

Pool B: Punjab Police, Jalandhar; Air India, Mumbai; Indian Juniors, New Delhi; Tamil Nadu, Chennai; Army XI, New Delhi.

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