By IANS
Agra : The Indian hockey team arrived here Wednesday to a tumultuous welcome by the people of the city.
The team, which arrived by road from Delhi, was welcomed at Guru ka Tal Gurudwara here by scores of sports enthusiasts, including the local parliamentarian Raj Babbar.
The main road of the city was decked and illuminated. Welcome arches and hoardings were put up all over the place in the team’s honour.
Responding to the welcome, hockey team captain Dilip Tikrey said: “We are overwhelmed and happy with the great welcome to the team.”
Raj Babbar, amidst shouts of ‘Chak de India’, said: “It is an honour to Agra and we are proud of the team’s performance.”
The Indian hockey team has been invited to Agra on the initiative of Citizens of Agra, a group that includes prominent members of the city, to “undo the justice done to the game due to the popularity of cricket”.
Earlier, popular sportsperson of the city Har Vijay Singh Bahia told IANS: “It will be a grand, emotional and memorable welcome. The whole city will converge at the glittering St John’s College ground where the civic reception has been organised.”
Leading the reception were Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) chairman and managing director Kuldip Goyal. BSNL officials told reporters that their organisation was determined to take hockey to new heights.
Former hockey stars Dhanraj Pillai and Jagvir Singh were also to be present on the occasion.