Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Astroturf Turning Kovai Into Hockey Capital of Western Tamil Nadu
Coimbatore, a city in Tamil Nadu, India, got a brand-new hockey field with a special kind of playing surface called astroturf.
Astroturf looks like grass but it is made of synthetic material.
Top-level hockey games are played on this surface.
This is the first astroturf field in western Tamil Nadu.
Because of it, many school and college students are getting excited about hockey.
A big national junior championship was held on this field in July and August.
Camps were also run for coaches and umpires.
Teams from neighbouring districts like Nilgiris, Erode and Namakkal want to train here too.
The hockey officials hope Coimbatore will become the hockey capital of the west zone.
They want to build a gallery so more people can watch the matches.
Western Tamil Nadu's first high-grade synthetic hockey turf (astroturf) opened earlier this year at R.S. Puram in Coimbatore.
The turf has sparked renewed interest in hockey among school, college and club players in Coimbatore and nearby districts.
Coimbatore recently hosted the Hockey India men junior national championship, held in July-August.
Coach and umpire camps were conducted, and schools, colleges and clubs from Nilgiris, Erode and Namakkal are seeking training on the turf.
Officials are seeking support for Khelo India hockey programmes and plan to build a spectator gallery and more infrastructure around the turf.
- Who
- Dr. P. Senthil Rajkumar, secretary of the Coimbatore district hockey association and general secretary of the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, along with hockey talents, students, coaches and umpires.
- What
- The opening of western Tamil Nadu's first synthetic hockey turf in Coimbatore, which boosted hockey interest and drew national tournaments including the Hockey India men junior national championship.
- When
- The turf opened early this year; the Hockey India men junior national championship was held in July-August.
- Where
- R.S. Puram, Coimbatore, in western Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- Modern hockey requires synthetic turf to test players' skills, stamina and endurance, and the turf has renewed enthusiasm among budding players and their parents.
- Location
- R.S. Puram, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Facility
- High-grade synthetic hockey turf (astroturf), first of its kind in western Tamil Nadu
- Opening
- Early this year
- Highlight event
- Hockey India men junior national championship (July-August)
- Other activities
- School, college and club tournaments and leagues; coach and umpire camps
- Enquiries from
- Nilgiris, Erode and Namakkal
- Future plans
- Spectator gallery and more infrastructure; Khelo India hockey programmes requested