WITH its impact felt during the inaugural Pan American tournament, the Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival will go for its thirteenth lap today.
The premier indoor tournament of the GHB calendar was officially launched yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club Pavilion.

Tournament co-ordinator and president of the GHB, Philip Fernandes, during the launch contended that the DMW tournament has been one of the major contributors to many of the youngsters breaking into the National teams
“We had to find something to keep hockey alive and keep hockey exciting and attractive and Diamond Mineral Water was just that,” the GHB boss said.

He added, “It was that one thing every year that all the hockey people including the young people looked forward to and said: ‘Hey, we are going to see these foreigners come to play and see what they can do and how we can match against them.”
Meanwhile Platinum sponsor DLL through their Brand Executive Larry Wills contended that they are more than satisfied with the support the tournament has garnered.

“The Diamond Mineral Water International Indoor Hockey Festival is the only one of its kind in Guyana and we are pleased that our tournament has attracted both male and female teams, both locally, and internationally.”
He noted that the company has long been hydrating athletes in the sport adding that throughout their years of sponsorship, they have been privy to high class hockey throughout the tournaments

The tournament begins tomorrow at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with Woodpecker Hikers taking on Old Fort Shooting Stars in women’s action while Bounty GCC play Saints in the men’s game.