The HIL trophy.
PANAJI
The much-awaited Hockey India League is back. It will feature both men's and women's competitions. While the men’s competition is set to make a comeback after 2017, the women’s league will make its much-needed debut.
The matches will be held across two cities, Ranchi and Rourkela, considered as emerging hockey hubs, with all women's games taking place at the Jaipal Singh Stadium in Ranchi and all men's games at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. In recent times, these two cities have emerged as hockey hotbeds, regularly hosting matches in packed stadiums.
The league aims to strengthen Indian hockey as it will provide opportunities for young players and also a platform for retired players.
With Indian men’s hockey team winning two consecutive Olympic medals, the popularity of the sport is definitely on the rise in the country. In such a scenario, the revival of Hockey India League was the need of the hour. Even Indian women’s hockey has shown upward trend after the Asian Champions Trophy victory.
The men’s side has benefitted a lot from this league in the past and with the starting of the women’s Hockey India League, it can prove to be a game changer for women’s hockey in the country, particularly in their build up towards the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Hockey India League in its new format has the potential to do for Indian hockey what IPL has done for Indian cricket – identify upcoming talent who can serve the national team and also help the sport grow in the country.
Before the first edition of the league in 2013, India was ranked the 11th-best side in the world and third-best in Asia. Its last Olympic medal had come way back in 1980. The Hockey India League did play its part in providing a platform and bringing together the core members of the Indian team who eventually went on to win back-to-back Olympic medals in 2021 and 2024. Currently, India is ranked fifth in the world and best in Asia over the last few years.
Many current Indian players, including skipper Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Manpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Hardik Singh, Lalit Upadhyay have benefitted from the erstwhile version of the league that ran from 2013 to 2017. They got valuable exposure playing alongside the world’s top players in the Hockey India League.
The league, in its new avatar, will also provide former players with a platform to stay connected to the sport. Hockey stars like PR Sreejesh, Deepak Thakur and Rani Rampal are involved in the league, allowing them to give back to the sport even after retirement.
Experts and former coaches have often cited India’s lack of club culture as the primary reason behind its decline in hockey on the international stage, but Hockey India League, despite its short window, has helped bridge that gap in its formative years.
Several Indian men’s and women’s players of the current and upcoming generation have ambitions of winning the Olympic gold in forthcoming Olympics i.e. 2028 and 2032.
In such a scenario, the revival of the Hockey India League seems to be a step in the right direction.
HOCKEY INDIA LEAGUE
Men's league: Dec 28, 2024 to Feb 1, 2025; Teams: Delhi SG Pipers, Rarh Bengal Tigers, Soorma Hockey Club, Hyderabad Toofans, Kalinga Lancers, Tamil Nadu Dragons, Team Gonasika, UP Rudras
Women's league: Jan 12, 2025 to Jan 26, 2025; Teams: Delhi SG Pipers, Odisha Warriors, Rarh Bengal Tigers, Soorma Hockey Club
