Hockey players elated after synthetic turf for hockey in Pulwama gets FIH category 2 certification

Pulwama, Sep 24: The hockey players from South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have been elated after FIH, Federation Internationale de Hockey accorded category 2 field certification to a synthetic turf developed in the area.
The synthetic turf for hockey is situated at Mehjoor Memorial Boys Higher Secondary School in Chatapora area of Pulwama.
“The FIH, Federation Internationale de Hockey (International Federation of Hockey) is pleased to confirm that this hockey field has been tested and shown to satisfy the construction, performance and player welfare requirements of an FIH Category 2 hockey field,” the certification document reads.
“The category 2 certification means that the hockey field can be used for national level tournaments,” senior hockey player from Pulwama, MohsinAndrabi told Rising Kashmir.
He said that they used to practice and play hockey on rough surfaces in Kashmir.
He added that they would face difficulties while playing on synthetic turf during inter-district competitions because of having no prior exposure to such a facility.
“The turf hockey is very fast while grass and other obstacles decrease ball speed on the natural surface,” he said.
The senior hockey player further said that it is one among the four such turfs developed by the Department of Youth Services and Sports in Jammu and Kashmir.
He added that the facility will help them groom their talent for competition at national level.
District Officer, Youth Services and sports Pulwama, Noor ulHaq, said that hockey has a good prospect in the district.
“The District Hockey Association is holding tournaments regularly involving students of various schools,” he said, adding that hockey is alive in Pulwama. He said that the artificial turf is ready for holding regular tournaments.
“The only hiccup is the availability of water for the ground,” he said, adding that for water all accessories are in place except the source of water.
“A bore well has been allotted for the field,” he said, adding that the work has been given to the ground water department for execution.
“I have been pleading with them to start digging the bore well so that the artificial turf is thrown open for tournaments,” he said.
Assistant Engineer Ground Water for Pulwama said that the work is yet to be tendered due to vacant position of Executive Engineer.
The foundation stone for the synthetic turf was laid by the Lieutenant Governor of J & K Manoj Sinha in September 2020.