Much-awaited Hockey India League set to return with simultaneous women's tournament, HI calls for registrations
Hockey India has invited players from the top 15 hockey-playing nations to register for the Hockey India League, which is set to make a comeback after an eight-year gap.
The tournament, which will also feature a separate women's league for the first time, is slated to get underway in the FIH-sanctioned window between the last week of December 2024 to the first week of February 2025.
The Hockey India League began in 2013 while the previous edition was held back in 2017 with the Kalinga Lancers franchise emerging victorious.
According to a media communique issued by Hockey India, the upcoming season of the Hockey India League will feature eight teams in the men's section and six teams for the inaugural edition of the women's event.
Indian players have been asked to register for the competition on or before June 30, 2024. Ranchi Rhinos, Delhi Waveriders, Ranchi Rays, and Punjab Warriors are the other teams who have won the competition in the past.
Sardar Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh of India, Dutchman Jaap Stockmann, Ashley Jackson of Great Britain, and Florian Fuchs of Germany have won the coveted Player of the Tournament awards in past editions of the league.
Dabang Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh Wizards are two of the other teams that took part in the Hockey India League.
"Elated to open the player registration for the Hockey India League" - HI President Dilip Tirkey
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey expressed confidence that budding Indian players would benefit from playing alongside the best of international talent while also recalling the popularity of the league.
“We are elated to open the player registration for the Hockey India League 2024-2025 edition. This step signifies that we are close to restarting the HIL, a league that was loved by hockey players and fans across the world. We are confident that budding Indian hockey players will snatch at the opportunity to play with and against some of the best players in the world,” Dilip Tirkey was quoted as saying.
Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh asserted that the league would improve the standard of young players and "propagate a culture of hockey across the nation."
He also credited the HIL for the resurgence of the Indian men's hockey team.
"The HIL played a pivotal role in the resurgence of the Indian Hockey Teams and it is a matter of great joy and pride that we are on the verge of restarting it. The league will help improve the standard of young players and propagate a culture of hockey across the nation. We look forward to receiving heaps of applications from India and abroad,” the HI Secretary General was quoted saying.
Previous editions of the Hockey India League were played on a round-robin and knock-out format.