Maulana Md Tayyebulla Hockey Stadium at Bhetapara

Guwahati, July 11: With the Indian Hockey Federation naming the newly built Maulana Md Tayyebulla Hockey Stadium in Bhetapara as the venue of the next edition of the Premier Hockey League (PHL) the stadium is all set to be illuminated with high-mast floodlights.

The state government has prepared the proposal for the installation of floodlights making slight modification in the height of the masts as was designed earlier in the original design of the stadium constructed by Larsen & Toubro Ltd with STUP Consultants.

“The modification of reducing the height of the masts was necessary as the overall elevation of the infrastructure has been kept low. The proposal has already got the approval of the departments concerned and is now with the planning and development department for final approval to be placed with the DoNER ministry,” said National Games Secretariat secretary general (infrastructure and equipment) Pradip Hazarika.

The PHL’s edition this year is scheduled for December 2007 and January 2008 before which the installation of lights will have to be completed. The floodlights and arrangement of a title sponsor are the only two requirements the IHF has sought from the Assam Hockey Association (AHA) for the flagship event.

For the sponsorship, the AHA might not face much hardship, given the profile of the event and availability of prospective investors in the petroleum and other industrial sectors of the state.

After the resounding success of the 33rd National Games, the organisers of the premier hockey league, patronised by the Indian Hockey Federation, ESPN, STAR Sports and Leisure Sports Private Co Ltd, have agreed in principle to host the next edition of the two-month-long professional league in the city.

The PHL was conceptualised three years ago to revive the national sport in its traditional bastions, besides looking for newer pastures. Such is the magnitude and scale of the league that proceedings are telecast in 26 countries and the participating teams comprise overseas players, apart from leading domestic names.

Besides promoting the game, the league also indirectly helps promote the host city by showcasing its hotspots and way of life to the world.

Moreover, the event is bein-g seen as an opportunity to popularise the sport in Assam.

After the National Games, the NGS has already started a regular training academy in the infrastructure where about 50 players have been training under NIS coach Ranjit Singh Raja.