85th All India MCC – Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament Commences From October 1st 2009
Chennai, September 28, 2009:Madras Cricket Club and Murugappa Group are all set to host an action packed 85th MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in Chennai from October 1st to October 11th, 2009. Ten teams from across the country will participate in this prestigious tournament and compete for the championship title on the Astro Turf grounds at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Egmore, Chennai.
The 85th edition of the national game will see the involvement of brilliant squads like Air India, Indian Overseas Bank, Karnataka XI, BPCL, ONGC, Indian Oil Corporation, Army XI, Mumbai XI, Indian Railways, Punjab National Bank. These teams will be categorized into two groups. The tournament will be played on a league cum knockout basis. The inauguration Ceremony will be held on October 1st, post which the teams will play two to three matches per day till 8th October. The top 2 teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals to be played on 10th October 2009, followed by the Finals on 11th October 2009.
The Murugappa Group, one of India’s leading business conglomerates has been supporting this tournament and plays an instrumental role in promoting our national game across the country. The title winner will get the prize money of Rs.1, 50,000 and the runner up will be awarded Rs.1, 00,000. Besides, the tournament will also award prizes from the semi-finals stage, for the man of the match for each game. Special prizes for the Best Player of the Tournament, Best Forwarder, Best Goal Keeper and theMost Promising Player of the tournament.
Mr. Arun Murugappan, Managing Director, Parry Enterprises India Ltd, Murugappa Group and also the Organising Secretary, MCC said, “We take great pride in associating ourselves with this sport. Hockey in India has a very glorious past and we consider it our responsibility to preserve and promote this game and nurture and encourage the young talent in the country and bring them together to compete and contribute towards the national game.”
Hockey started in Chennai in 1894 through Madras Cricket Club, one of the premier institutions in the country. The first Hockey tournament in South India commenced on July 22, 1901. Thereafter tournaments have been held annually and have gradually become one of the Country’s major events. MCC will play a friendly match against The Hindu on 30th September 2009 at 6.00 p.m.
Hockey fans across India can enjoy the live telecast of semi finals and final match of the tournament on DD Sports channel.
About Murugappa Group
Headquartered in Chennai, the Rs. 15,907 crores (USD 3.14 billion) Murugappa Group is one of India’s leading business conglomerates. Market leaders in diverse areas of business including Engineering, Abrasives, Finance, General Insurance, Cycles, Sugar, Farm Inputs, Fertilizers, Plantations, Bio-products and Nutraceuticals, its 29 companies have manufacturing facilities spread across 13 states in India. The organization fosters an environment of professionalism and has a workforce of over 32,000 employees. The Group has forged strong joint venture alliances with leading international companies like DBS Bank, Mitsui Sumitomo, Foskor, Cargill and Groupe Chimique Tunisien has consolidated its status as one of the fastest growing diversified business houses in India.
