The 30th edition of the national hockey championship is set for a golden touch as new sponsors ATN Bangla, one of the leading satellite channels of the country stepped up to craft a whole gold-emblazoned trophy and a contract of Tk2m for each of the next five years. The championship starts from November 5.
The details were revealed in a press conference at Dutch-Bangla Bank Auditorium of the Bangladesh Olympic Association yesterday.
ATN Bangla chairman Mahfuzur Rahman and Anvir Adil Khan, the joint secretary of Bangladesh Hockey Federation disclosed the ins and outs of the event.
Mahfuzur said they will provide an attractive pure gold trophy though the winners would be presented a replica. “I assure the trophy will be attractive and will be made out of pure gold. In addition we will also provide a purse of Tk fifty and thirty thousand each for the champions and runners-up respectively,” said Mahfuzur.
Meanwhile, Anvir said another venue outside the capital would have added extra colour to the event.
“This year we initially thought of adding Faridpur as the third venue but due to unavoidable circumstances it had to be cancelled, the more hockey is played outside the capital, we believe it wins the people’s heart,” he said.
A total of 23 teams, split into six groups, will play across two venues in Dhaka and Rajshahi. The group champions will join Bangladesh Army, Faridpur, BKSP and Dhaka, the four semifinalists from last year, in the final round which is expected to start form November 12.