ONGC Lucky-Srivastav memorial tournament enters 20th year

Justin Lucky and S. K. Srivastava were shot dead by extremists fighting for a separate tribal homeland. Teams from Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam besides Tripura will participate in the tournament slated to be held from February 11 to 18.

Representative image.

The Tripura division of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will host the 20th ONGC Lucky-Srivastav football tournament in memory of its two employees killed by extremists in 1992.

Justin Lucky and S. K. Srivastava were shot dead by extremists fighting for a separate tribal homeland. Lucky was killed in an ambush on September 14, 1992 and Srivastava was killed two days later. Both incidents occurred in gas exploration sites.

Teams from Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam besides Tripura will participate in the competition slated to be held from February 11 to 18.

ONGC's Asset Manager S. C. Soni told the media on Thursday that 13 teams would participate in the annual tournament. The tournament is affiliated to All India Football Federation, he added.

The winner of the tournament will bag Rs. 1 lakh while the runner-up will be awarded Rs. 50,000.

Soni said the tournament is part of ONGC's initiative to promote sports in Tripura. Football, he said, was chosen because of its popularity in the northeastern region. "This would also give exposure to the football players of the state," he added.