<p>Maken, who was accompanied by West Bengal Sports Minister Madan Mitra, said they would work jointly to bring a Pakistani team next year to revive the historical hockey tournament.<br /><br />Here for the Beighton Cup final, he said, "It's such an old tournament ... We must ensure a smooth conduct of the tournament."<br /><br />Referring to the lack of a water source at the artificial turf at SAI here, he assured that provision for a borewell would be made for the purpose.<br /><br />He reiterated his stand on National Sports Development Bill and said the idea was to bring transparency among the National Sports Federations by application of Right to Information Act.<br /><br />"There is no reason why BCCI should not accept RTI. Once it becomes a law, all sports federations including BCCI will have to follow it.<br /><br />"The 25 per cent quota for the sportspersons in the administration will only help the respective federations. I am hopeful the revised Bill will be cleared by the Cabinet and after that passed by the Parliament," he said.<br /><br />Maken earlier inaugurated a synthetic track at the SAI Eastern Center and hoped that it would help the budding athletes of the region.<br /><br />He also visited the proposed venue of the artificial turf for Bengal Hockey Association at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan and said the government would cooperate with the state in this regard. <br /><br />Mitra said the work at the venue would be expedited and hoped that the 117th edition of the tournament would be held at the new venue.<br /><br />"We are hoping to get it done by next year. We are planning to bring a Pakistani team to play in the Beighton Cup to inaugurate the ground," Mitra said.<br /><br />BHA secretary Gurbux Singh said getting a foreign team had become difficult.<br /><br />"Earlier City Club of Lahore had participated in the Beighton Cup. But it has become difficult to get a Pakistani team to play now, especially after the Mumbai terror attacks."<br /><br />Three clearances -- from Sports, Home and External Affairs ministries -- were required to get the visa. Centre's help would clear the way," he added.</p>
<p>Maken, who was accompanied by West Bengal Sports Minister Madan Mitra, said they would work jointly to bring a Pakistani team next year to revive the historical hockey tournament.<br /><br />Here for the Beighton Cup final, he said, "It's such an old tournament ... We must ensure a smooth conduct of the tournament."<br /><br />Referring to the lack of a water source at the artificial turf at SAI here, he assured that provision for a borewell would be made for the purpose.<br /><br />He reiterated his stand on National Sports Development Bill and said the idea was to bring transparency among the National Sports Federations by application of Right to Information Act.<br /><br />"There is no reason why BCCI should not accept RTI. Once it becomes a law, all sports federations including BCCI will have to follow it.<br /><br />"The 25 per cent quota for the sportspersons in the administration will only help the respective federations. I am hopeful the revised Bill will be cleared by the Cabinet and after that passed by the Parliament," he said.<br /><br />Maken earlier inaugurated a synthetic track at the SAI Eastern Center and hoped that it would help the budding athletes of the region.<br /><br />He also visited the proposed venue of the artificial turf for Bengal Hockey Association at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan and said the government would cooperate with the state in this regard. <br /><br />Mitra said the work at the venue would be expedited and hoped that the 117th edition of the tournament would be held at the new venue.<br /><br />"We are hoping to get it done by next year. We are planning to bring a Pakistani team to play in the Beighton Cup to inaugurate the ground," Mitra said.<br /><br />BHA secretary Gurbux Singh said getting a foreign team had become difficult.<br /><br />"Earlier City Club of Lahore had participated in the Beighton Cup. But it has become difficult to get a Pakistani team to play now, especially after the Mumbai terror attacks."<br /><br />Three clearances -- from Sports, Home and External Affairs ministries -- were required to get the visa. Centre's help would clear the way," he added.</p>