All Indian affairs as Hero MotoCorp partners Lanco Hockey 9s

It all around Indian affair as far as sponsors for the Hockey 9s is concerned.

Hockey 9s is a new concept by which various innovations are introduced in an international tournament, it is fathered by Hockey Australia.

First, the title sponsor of the four-day event, Lanco, came from India. Now comes the news that the partner for the Series will also be from India; none other than the organization that title-sponsored World Cup last year in Delhi – Hero MotorCorp, then known as Hero Honda.

Hockey Australia today confirmed that Hero MotoCorp Ltd. has come on board as the Associate Partner of the Lanco International Super Series. Hero MotoCorp Ltd. is the world’s largest manufacturer of two – wheeler automobiles, headquartered in India.

The Lanco International Super Series is a newly created tournament, which has a revolutionary new format and new rules to make the game faster and more exciting than ever before.

The tournament will be held in Perth from October 20-23 in conjunction with Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and will feature top Men’s & Women’s teams such as Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Malaysia.

New rules for the tournament include teams having 9 players a side as opposed to the usual 11, games will be played in 15 minute halves as opposed to 35 minute halves, bigger goals, one player from each team will be required to stay in the forward half to create more space and ground rules will be relaxed to encourage continuous play.

Hockey Australia Chief Executive Mark Anderson also touched upon Hero’s involvement with this iconic event in his response to their new relationship.

“Hockey Australia is pleased to welcome Hero Moto Corp, the world’s leading 2-wheel automobile company, to be a partner of the Lanco International Super Series. The hockey world greatly appreciated the company’s tremendous efforts in promoting the sport around last year’s Hero FIH World Cup, culminating in that event being easily the most watched event in hockey history, & it is fantastic to see them get behind hockey’s newest format.”

Mr. Pawan Munjal Managing Director and CEO, Hero MotoCorp Ltd said, “Hero MotoCorp is pleased to associate with this latest innovation in International hockey, and to help ensure that hockey fans in India and around the world get a chance to see this exciting new format.”

“At Hero MotoCorp we also pride ourselves on innovation, and this partnership with the Lanco International Super Series Hockey 9s enables us to continue the very strong association with India’s national sport following the hugely successful Hero FIH World Cup 2010”

The sponsorship was facilitated by leading Indian sports marketing agency Commune; and the tournament will be telecast live in Australia on ABC and in South Asia on ESPN-STAR SPORTS, starting October 20th.

With additional input from Hockey Australia media release