With the earnest efforts of the hockey loving people of Punjab & players like Iqbal Singh Sandhu, Mr. Lakhwinder Pal Singh Khaira, Mr. Tarlok Singh Bhullar, Mr. Ram Partap, Ravinder Pal Singh PISCO, Mr. Baldev Singh Randhawa, Mr. Surinder Singh Bhapa, Parveen Gupta, Mohainder Singh Bhapa and many more formed a Surjit Hockey Society (Regd.), Jalandhar, in 1984 with a pledge to keep the name of Sardar Surjit Singh Randhawa, Olympian alive, who lost his life in a fatal car accident near Jalandhar on Jan 7th, 1984, while fighting hard for up liftmen of the game of Hockey in our Country. Sardar Surjit Singh Randhawa was a member of World XI, Asia Stars XI and he participated in number of international events i.e. Olympics, World Cup, Champions Trophy, Asian Games, besides many other International Tournaments.
Surjit Hockey Society, it started holding of Surjit Memorial Hockey Tournament at Jalandhar every year. Initially, tournament was started on grassy ground of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, Jalandhar with top teams of Northern India and the very first memorial tourney captured great crowd and hockey lovers commended the organization of tournament and Society earned great fame.
Top teams from Pakistan, Russia, Bangladesh, Yugoslavia, Canada, England, America, Croatia, Malaysia etc. have participated in this tournament from time to time besides the famous top teams of our country in Men & Women section
The Society has tried its all-level best to keep the name & fame of the above Hockey Legend alive in the Country as well as world Over by providing utmost modern facilities to the participating teams and officials & also through innovation & improvements year after year.
The Society with its earnest efforts has been able to get the name of the Stadium of Burlton Park, Jalandhar named as “Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium”, which itself has elevated the Hockey Legend in the field of Sports. Not looking back, Society was able to get the name of native village of Surjit Singh “DAKHLA” changed as “Surjit Singh Wala”, again a salute to the legend.
Under the slogan “Watch Surjit Hockey–Win ALTO Car”, Every year, Surjit Hockey Society awarding a MARUTI ALTO Car, Motor Cycles, Refrigerators and LCDs to the spectators, who will come to witness the Surjit Hockey matches. The main idea is to attract & to create more interest amongst the general public, especially our youth for our national game of Hockey. The lucky draw for the ALTO Cars and other prizes will be held on after the final match.
Recently, Surjit Hockey Society has started National Anthem before the start of the final match every year because the final match is the culmination of a tournament where teams compete fiercely. Playing the National Anthem transcends these individual and club rivalries. It reminds players, officials, and spectators that they are all part of one nation, united by a common identity that is bigger than the game itself.
The Society also conducts the coaching camps for upcoming Hockey Lover Children every year to explore new “SURJIT” among them. The Society has not stopped here but have equally stepped ahead to help the poor and needy parents for the marriages of their wards and to help them to smile with Society. The Society has honoured eminent Hockey Stalwarts, Hockey Olympians, eminent sports persons & NRI’s from time to time to remain in touch with the public.
The Main attraction for the hockey lovers is that the Society does not levy any sort of gate money for the spectators get to witness excellent game of hockey. Thousands of spectators watch the hockey matches in the stadium and semi-finals on television sets. Thus, it gives an opportunity the sponsors to advertise their products to the viewers.
t goes beyond doubt to state here that the Society succeed in conveying their messages/slogans to promote & adopt hockey to the public through this tournament held every year, besides Punjab Hockey Association and Hockey India carefully observe the budding players do that the best can be chosen for state and national teams.
Society has been honoured by hockey loving people of Punjab by way of extending continuous financial help and with their kind support, society has been able to provide maximum facilities to the participating teams on the pattern of international standards besides cash awards & other attractive prizes to best players amounting to Rs. 15.00 Lakhs..
NRI Amolak Singh Gakhal, Chairman, Gakhal Group of Usa are sponsoring a cash award of Rs. 5.50 Lakhs to champion teams since last more than 15 years
Society has been honoured by “IndianOil Corporation Limited” by way of extending continuous sponsorship since 1990, hockey lovers & other sponsors and with their kind support, society has been able to provide maximum facilities to the participating teams on the pattern of international standards besides cash awards & other attractive prizes to best players.