Dubai: The women hockey players who helped make award-winning sports film Chak De India into a Bollywood blockbuster will be here to play in the tenth edition of the Lusitanian Sport Club organised tournament on January 24 at the Dubai Scholars ground.
Lusitanians Club invites top players from India, Pakistan and Gulf countries for their annual tournaments.
This year it will stage the Seiko Al Futtaim Watches men's tournament and UAE Exchange women's tournament.
"Nesha Nair, who acted in Chak De India and Indian player Singh Balraj Kaur, will be part of the Friends United hockey team from Mumbai. More players will be confirming their availability," said Eusebio Coelho, the founder of the Lusitanian Club.
"The team will be managed by former Indian captain Dhanraj Pillay," Coelho said. "We will have teams from Oman and Abu Dhabi taking part in the men's event to be held on January 23 at the Sharjah Wanderers ground," he added.
"The teams who have confirmed entry are: Al Khabourah (Oman), Sharjah Tigers, Axiom Hockey Team, Lacnor Hockey Team, Dubai Hockey Club, Emirates Group, Dubai Republicans, United Emirates Hockey Club, Loose Cannons and Cambridge High School, Abu Dhabi," said Patrick Vaz, the organiser of the event.
"This is the first time we are organising a women's event and will be contested by Dubai Scholars, Cambridge High School (Abu Dhabi), Dubai Hockey Club, Sharjah Tigers, Friends United (Bombay) and His Highness Shaikh Rashid Al Maktoum High School," added Coelho. Oasis Palm tourism will take the players for a cruise dinner and also stage a women's exhibition match to make it a memorable event.
