Sahara to renew deal with Indian hockey

NEW DELHI: Just a couple of days after snapping ties with the cricket board ( BCCI), Sahara India group on Tuesday said that it was close to resuming its partnership with Hockey India for a sponsorship deal, which could be for a period of five years.

Sahara’s partnership with HI had ended in July 2011 before it was extended for another six months on an interim basis.

“The talks are at an advanced stage. The negotiations are moving towards a positive direction and we are working on the final figures. The deal could be finalized soon, possibly on Wednesday,” a senior Sahara official told TOI.

The company started sponsoring the national team from 2003 after Castrol pulled out as sponsors. The company had signed an eight-year deal with the KPS Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) which was administering the game in the country.

Meanwhile, HI said it is expecting a substantial hike in the sponsorship amount.

“We have not decided the final figures but there will be a substantial hike in the new contract. We will make an official announcement soon,” a senior HI official told a news agency. He added that the Sahara group had decided to renew its sponsorship contract with men’s and women’s teams in both senior and junior categories.