National Hockey begins today

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The 27th National Hockey begins today at the Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium in the city, reports BSS.
Nineteen teams from across the country are taking part in the competition, organised by Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) under the sponsorship of Salton Pharmaceuticals Limited.
The teams, split into five groups, will play in the preliminary phase of the competition with the top team from each group progressing to the second round, where the five teams will play on league basis. The best two teams of the second round points table will feature in the final.
This competition gives the players a unique opportunity to get call-up for the national team as the players' performance of this tournament will be considered to form the national team, a BHF official said.
Salton Pharmaceuticals Limited, a concern of Cotton Group, is giving Taka 2.5 lakh to the BHF to organise the event, while the total budget of this competition is Taka 3.5 lakh.
The participating teams will be given food and accommodation by the organisers, he added.
The groups:
A-Dhaka, Chittagong district team, Joypurhat
B-Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan, Rajshahi divisional team, Dinajpur, Chittagong divisional team
C-Bangladesh Air Force, Mymensingh, Patuakhali, Bangladesh Police
D-Faridpur, Narayanganj, Bangladesh Navy, Sylhet
E-Rajshahi district team, Tangail, Kishoreganj, Comilla.