The recent performances of the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams have been praiseworthy, obviously leaving aside the dismal performance in the World Cup by the men’s team. Overall the fanfare and the love that the sport has received after strong finishes in the Tokyo Olympics has forced Hockey India to rekindle the Hockey India League (HIL) which will now make a return after 2017.
The HIL which started in 2013 saw some of the top players across the globe play in the league and the five seasons helped Indian players gain more experience and as they rubbed shoulders with top-class foreign players, they started believing more in their abilities. The league during that time provided massive exposure to young Indian players and will stay true to its roots.
Hockey India have signed a contract with Big Bang Media Ventures Pvt. Ltd. as the league’s marketing and commercial partner. The promotions will begin soon and the league will return in no time. This was a very happy moment for the majority of the hockey fans in the country as the players will finally have a platform to prove themselves under a proper league structure.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey shared that reviving the HIL was one of his top criteria when he took office. He as a player himself understands the platform that is needed for the players to flourish and believes it will be a major step in Indian hockey’s development going forward.
“I am very pleased today, because the Hockey India League was one of my top priorities when I assumed office as president of Hockey India. It will be a critical stepping stone for India and we are delighted to have Big Bang Media Ventures Pvt Ltd (BBMVPL) as our exclusive Commercial partners for the HIL. Their understanding of sport, esports, content, media & IP monetisation is unparalleled and we are very excited for what we could collectively achieve and deliver.”
“I am delighted that we are moving towards the launch of a new era of the Hockey India League. It will revitalise not only hockey in India, but also bring fresh energy to the sport globally,” Turkey added.
The Hockey India general secretary Bhola Nath Singh also echoed similar emotions as he feels that the league will bring in the best foreign players from across the globe and will help the young Indians gain experience and fast forward their growth which will only help the national team.
“The Hockey India League will bring together the best of the world and a great learning experience for young talent as well. We are confident of taking this forward with Bing Bang Media Ventures Pvt. Ltd. and their expertise to manage the commercial and marketing aspects of the league, “ Bhola Nath Singh shared.
The 2017 Hockey India League had six teams and it was played in a round-robin format. Teams would be in a single group, playing each other twice in a season in a home and away format with the top four qualifying for the semifinals. A minimum of two and a maximum of five foreign players were allowed in the playing eleven.
It will be interesting to see how the revived HIL will look, how many teams will be there and what all will be the foreigners rule. Overall it is a very fun time to be an Indian hockey fan.
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