Bengaluru, Oct 8
Hockey India League (HIL) is all set to return after a seven-year hiatus with a bang this December, Indian women’s team captain Salima Tete, who hails from Jharkhand, is dreaming of playing the Women's League final on “home turf” early next year.
The midfielder, who was appointed captain after Harendra Singh took over the Indian Women’s Hockey Team earlier this year, expressed her excitement for the Hockey India League, saying, "I am very excited for HIL, it is restarting after seven years and with a Women’s League this time. The whole team has been discussing what a great opportunity this is for us the last few days. We will get to mingle with players from different nationalities, play with them, play against them and improve as players."
"It will give youngsters who aren’t a part of the Senior Team a chance to see the daily routines of Indian players and foreign players up close. And being in a high-performance, professional environment early in their career will do wonders for their development. I expect the HIL will be beneficial for players who have been out of the team as well, giving them an opportunity to compete at the highest level and keep themselves sharp," she added.
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 in Rourkela.