Balewadi hockey facilities set to be upgraded

Mumbai: Maharashtra Government has promised to upgrade the existing facilities for conducting national hockey camps in future at the Chattrapati Shivaji Sports Complex in Balewadi near Pune after the London Olympic Games.

The assurance was given by Maharashtra's Sports Minister Padmakar Walvi when he visited the Balewadi complex on Thursday to offer his best wishes to the Indian hockey squad, which is training there ahead of its tour of Europe and the Olympic Games in London, a media release said.

The Minister also informed the team about the state government's policy of granting Rs. 15 lakh to players from Maharashtra, who are part of the Olympics squad and also its support for the ancillary staff, the release said.

Walvi also appreciated the team's effort during the Olympic qualifiers in Delhi and the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.

The hockey squad is set to leave for the European tour on Saturday.