Anticipation is building as the 3rd MJ Cup Invitational Hockey Tournament (Men and Women) 2023 gears up to unfold at the Maj. Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium in Nehrunagar-Pimpri. With a total of 26 teams in contention, the tournament, organized under the auspices of Hockey Maharashtra, promises an exciting showcase of skill and competition from December 15 to 23.
In a bid to champion local talent, the men’s section features 22 Pune-based teams, with the sole exception being Bombay Republicans representing Mumbai. The men’s teams will battle it out in a league-cum-knockout format, starting with an all-play-all group stage where the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.
The women’s section, comprising J.J Academy, SNBP, Krida Prabodhini, PCMC Hockey Academy, Excellency Academy, and Bombay Republicans, will engage in a group stage divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout semi-finals.
Organizer Edwin Moti John, a former player and Maharashtra coach, expressed the tournament’s commitment to nurturing local talent. He stated, “Hockey and Pune have produced brilliant players known globally, and this competition aims to support and encourage our local players.”
Amidst the excitement, a controversial perspective emerges, questioning whether the competitive format truly fosters the growth and development of players or if it places undue pressure on the emerging talents.
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