After a seven-year hiatus, the Hockey India League (HIL) is set to make a grand comeback, featuring a revamped structure and the historic inclusion of women’s teams. The league, which will run from December 28, 2024, to February 5, 2025, promises to be a significant event in the hockey calendar, with an exclusive 35-day window granted by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to ensure maximum participation from international players.
Revamped Structure and Teams of Hockey India League
The 2024-25 edition of the HIL will feature eight men’s teams and six women’s teams, marking the first time a standalone women’s league will run concurrently with the men’s competition. The men’s matches will be held at the Jharkhand and Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, while the women’s matches will take place at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi.
The men’s teams include franchises from Chennai, Lucknow, Punjab, Kolkata, Delhi, Odisha, Hyderabad, and Ranchi. The women’s teams, initially confirmed from Punjab, Haryana, Kolkata, Delhi, and Odisha, will see two more franchises finalized before the player auction.
Player Auctions and Team Composition
The player auctions are scheduled to take place from October 13 to 15 in New Delhi. Each franchise will be allowed to form a 24-player squad through this auction process. This structure aims to ensure a balanced and competitive league, with a mix of domestic and international talent.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey emphasized the importance of this exclusive window, stating, “A clear 35-40 day window will enable maximum participation from foreign players in HIL, thus making it one of the most competitive leagues in the world and also signifies the importance of HIL.” This move is expected to attract top-tier talent from around the globe, enhancing the quality of the competition.
#HockeyIndiaLeague is back, and with it, a new era of Indian hockey is born!
The revival of this iconic league is more than just a sporting event – it's a dream come true for players, fans, and the nation.
After seven long years of waiting, the #HockeyIndiaLeague returns,… pic.twitter.com/HQ1tA3lGTG
— Dilip Kumar Tirkey (@DilipTirkey) October 4, 2024
Significance of the League’s Return
The return of the HIL is seen as a crucial step in nurturing Indian hockey talent and boosting the sport’s profile both domestically and internationally. The league had been dormant since its last edition in 2017 due to financial issues. The previous iterations of the HIL, which ran from 2013 to 2017, were instrumental in providing a platform for Indian players to compete alongside and against some of the best in the world.
The inclusion of women’s teams is a historic move, reflecting the growing recognition and support for women’s hockey in India. This development is expected to provide a significant boost to the sport, encouraging more young girls to take up hockey and aspire to play at professional levels.
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