Hockey India League, started in 2013 but stopped in 2017, is back. The sixth edition will commence on 28th Dec. Eight men’s and 6 women’s teams have been confirmed, though the details of which will be officially announced tomorrow. Its heartening to note all the franchises have been taken by popular business houses.
Some of the business entities that took teams include SG pipers from Delhi’s Suburb (Delhi team), Future Gaming (Tamil Nadu), JSW, who sponsored Indian Olympic Contingent for the Paris number, GMR, a leading infrastructure company, Round Glass, a leading sports promoter in Punjab where Dronocharya awardee Rajinder Singh Sr is the engine room.
Hockey India was one of the most attractive Leagues outside FIH, fully commercial, which has enlivened the global hockey community. Many credit rise of Indian hockey — winning bronze in Tokyo and then recently in Paris — to the HIL.