Under the old format, there used to be only four groups and two teams from each group were to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The first Nationals under the new format will be organised at Ropar from March 8 to 13. Kerala and Punjab were winners and runners-up in the last edition of the Nationals.

PHA secretary Teja Singh Dhaliwal said that sixteen teams had already confirmed their participation for the Ropar Nationals. The number may cross 20 as more entries are expected.

Those who have already assured their participation are: Kerala, Association of Indian Universities, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh , Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Manipur and hosts Punjab.

The competitions will be held at the Nehru Stadium where final touches are being given for smooth conduct of the Nationals.

Hockey camp
Five players of the Panjab University have been selected for the Combined University hockey camp for the National championship slated to be held at Hyderabad from March 10 to 26.

According to information received here, the players were selected on the basis of their performance during the Nehru hockey tournament, which recently concluded at Amritsar. The camp is being held at Amritsar.

The selected players are Navdeep Singh, Jaswinder, Jasmeet, Vikram and Inderjeet Singh (all SD College, Sector 32).

Jerath nominated
C K Jerath, secretary, Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association, has been nominated as technical official for the VI Adajania Cup International boxing championship to be held in New Delhi from March 5 to 10.

Boxing meet
The Chandigarh Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) will organise 22nd Senior State championship on March 13 and 14 at Boxing Coaching Centre in Sector 23.

According to a press release, during the meet players will be selected to take part in the national meet to be held at Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) from March 25 to 30.