Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey Academy, a residential school for young hockey players, has been revived five years after an economic setback caused by the Covid-19 pandemic forced its closure.During the recent two-day trials held in Amritsar, 60 players across the U-14, U-17 and U-19 categories, studying in classes V to XII, were selected.Established in 2005, the academy has produced several national and international hockey players for India. Hockey coach Kuljit Singh Bamrah stated that 400 young players from across Punjab participated in the trials, and after three stages of testing, 60 were chosen.The selection committee, formed by the Punjab Sports Department, included Olympian Ramandeep Singh, SP Batala; Olympian and Arjuna awardee Shamsher Singh, DSP Punjab Police; Olympian and Arjuna awardee Simranjit Singh, PCS; and international player Bikramjit Singh, Chief Inspector, Railways, who was part of the junior Indian hockey team that won the Junior World Cup in 2001.Approval for the residential school was granted by Director Sports Punjab Harpreet Singh Sudan and Assistant Director Sports Gurjant Singh, himself a hockey Olympian and Arjuna awardee.Under the “Catch Them Young” policy, the selected players will reside at the academy’s well-furnished hostel at Guru Nanak Wara near Khalsa College. Their education will be provided free of cost by the Spring Dale Educational Society, chaired by Sahiljit Singh Sandhu, who also serves as president of the academy.Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina, honorary secretary of Khalsa College Governing Council, has offered the academy his college grounds for training and free education at Khalsa College Senior Secondary School.DIG Punjab Police Sukhminder Singh Maan, chairman of the academy, played a key role in reviving grassroots hockey in the city. Dr Avtar Singh, a leading local doctor and hospital chain owner, serves as vice-chairman, providing free medical care and support for the academy’s restoration.Thanks to the efforts of Olympian Balwinder Singh Shami, the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey Academy, already renowned across India, has reopened. Following the pandemic, its revival has sparked joy among hockey players throughout Punjab.At the trials, international players including Sukhjit Kaur, Harjit Kaur, Nirmal Singh, Kabul Singh Aulakh, Parshan Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Gurbakshish Singh, and Jagroop Singh, along with coaches Rupinder Singh, Simranjit Singh, and Paramjit Singh, were present.