Bengaluru, Oct 5
Hockey India, on Friday, announced the return of the Hockey India League after a seven-year hiatus which will feature eight men’s teams and six women’s teams, marking the first standalone women’s league in the country that will run concurrently with the men’s competition.
The league will get underway on December 28 with matches played at two venues — Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand and Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Odisha. The women’s League will conclude on January 26, 2025 in Ranchi while the men’s final is slated for February 1, 2025 in Rourkela.
Harmanpreet Singh, the captain of the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, emerged as a rising star in the previous edition and used the opportunity to study some of the best players in the world to improve his game. He has credited the league on several occasions for raising the standard of hockey in India and expressed his immense pleasure after its announcement.
“There could be nothing better for Indian hockey than the Hockey India League. It was a great learning experience the last time around and I am sure all hockey players are excited to take part in the League. It will be a great opportunity for the youngsters as well to rub shoulders with the best players from across the globe, observe the subtle differences in the way they think, the way they play and try to inculcate the good habits that they notice,” said Harmanpreet Singh.