PUNE: The Maharashtra team has arrived in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, to participate in the 7th National Bandy Championship, organized by the National Bandy Association, starting tomorrow (November 8). The team comprises 40 players selected by the Maharashtra Bandy Committee.
Five teams from Maharashtra, including boys and girls under 10, 14, 17, and 19 years, will participate in the championship. Ajay Jagatap, President of Pune District Bandy Association and Secretary of Pune District Ice Hockey Association, expressed hope that Maharashtra will win medals this year as well.
Bandy is a game similar to ice hockey, popular in Russia, and played all over Europe, in Scandinavian countries, Baltic countries, and Mongolia. The game has been gaining popularity in India, and this is the 7th national championship.
Maharashtra has been participating in the championship for the past two years, with a significant number of players from Pune. Many ice skating enthusiasts are taking up the sport, attracted by national and international success, fewer competitions, and support for the game, said Ajay Jagatap.
The state-level competition was held in Pandharpur last month, and players who qualified at the district level worked hard to secure a spot in the national team.
Players performing well in the national championship will get a chance to participate in the international competition in Russia next month.
The Maharashtra team includes players from Pandharpur, Raigad, Kolhapur, Mumbai, and Pune. Over 40 teams from 8-9 states have arrived in Dehradun for the championship, including teams from Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, and Delhi.
The principal of Dr. Kalamadi Shyamrao Junior College, Shobha Channal, provided the college facilities for the Maharashtra team’s practice, which was appreciated by the players.