Surjit Hockey Society (Regd.) came into existence 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.
With the earnest efforts of the hockey loving people of Punjab formed a 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. In the second memorial tournament, teams from various corners of the country participated and thereafter graph of the tournament name remained ascending and it earned world fame. Top teams from Pakistan, Russia, Bangladesh, Yugoslavia, Canada, England, America, Croatia 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 has the pride to have Chief Minister of Punjab as Chief Patron, Deputy Commissioner of Jalandhar and Sr. Supdt. of Plice, Jalandhar as its Ex-Officio President & Sr. Vive President, respectively and Sh. L.R Nayyar IRS its Working President (Life Time) besides Prominent Hockey Players like Padma Shree Pargat Singh, many Olympians, International Players and Top Dignitaries of IAS/IPS/IRS/PCS/PPS/ Govt. Officials/Public Sector Officials/Hockey Lovers and Promoters on its board. It is purely a non-political and non- profit making Society. State leaders feel proud of becoming guest of honours in the tournament. The Society has pride to have the Ex Prime Minister of India Sh. I K Gujral, Cabinet Minister of Govt. of India S. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Ex Minister r in PMO Sh. Aslam Sher Khan Olympian, Hon'ble Governor of Punjab Sh. B.L Chibbar, The Chief Minister of Punjab S. Pakash Singh Badal, The former Chief Ministe of Punjab S. Beant Singh & Smt. Rajinder Kaur Bhattal as Chief Guests at the finals of this tournament in the past. This tournament is telecasted live on Doordarshan from semi final stage & its semi finals & Finals attract vide publicity. Moreover matches of the tournament are covered by various T.V Channels as well as city cable and leading News Papers, by way of which sponsors get wide publicity.
The Society with its earnest efforts have 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.
The Society had been paying monthly Pension of Rs. 5000/- to the mother of Late Surjit Singh Randhawa, as gratitude from Society to the aged parents of hockey legend.
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 id 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.
It goes beyond doubt to state here that the sponsors succeed in conveying their messages/slogans to the public through this tournament held every year, besides Punjab Hockey Association and Indian Hockey Federation carefully observe the budding players do that the best can be chosen for state and national teams.
Society has been honoured by "IndianOil Corporation" by way of extending continuous sponsorship since 1990 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.
