{"id":283189,"date":"2025-04-16T07:44:30","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T07:44:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/hockey-india-league-2-0-as-hil-returns-after-7-years-womens-league-in-focus-pr-sreejesh-named-delhis-director\/"},"modified":"2025-04-16T07:44:30","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T07:44:30","slug":"hockey-india-league-2-0-as-hil-returns-after-7-years-womens-league-in-focus-pr-sreejesh-named-delhis-director","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/hockey-india-league-2-0-as-hil-returns-after-7-years-womens-league-in-focus-pr-sreejesh-named-delhis-director\/","title":{"rendered":"Hockey India League 2.0: As HIL returns after 7 years, women\u2019s league in focus; PR Sreejesh named Delhi\u2019s director"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cThere is a revolution happening in Indian hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n

You could write them down as cliches, but some of the franchise owners hit the right notes when asked what made them come forward to invest in the revamped Hockey India League. On Friday in New Delhi<\/a>, in the midst of former Indian hockey stars and corporate investors who have shelled out the big bucks, Dilip Tirkey used the word \u201csapna\u201d (dream) multiple times in his speech as Hockey India confirmed the return of the tournament that last took place in 2017. A seven-year wait will be officially over, come December.<\/p>\n

While the previous iteration that ran for five years was popular amongst fans, financial problems on the ownership side saw it curtailed. But now, after much anticipation since Tirkey took over as Hockey India\u2019s president, the sapna becomes a reality.<\/p>\n

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The most striking difference is that this time around, a women\u2019s league (6 teams) will run parallel with the men\u2019s (8 teams). In India, while there has been a proliferation of sporting leagues since the success of IPL<\/a>, a majority of them have been for male athletes. Except the recent, Women\u2019s Premier League in cricket, other sports haven\u2019t been able to crack that space.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had initial plans for four teams but there were fans and some administrators who told us we needed more than that to produce a bigger volume of players, so we decided to increase the number,\u201d Tirkey told The Indian Express<\/a> on the sidelines of the event. \u201cGiven that each team is required to have four U21 players, having two more teams increases the standard of youth players. There were enough teams also coming forward to own women\u2019s teams, so that also played a part.\u201d<\/p>\n

Four of the six team owners (and cities) have been confirmed while two more are in the process of being finalised. Parth Jindal-led JSW Sports (Haryana for women, Punjab for men), Shrachi Sports (Kolkata<\/a>), SG Sports and Entertainment (Delhi), Navoyam Sports (Odisha) will have teams in both the leagues. The other four team owners with just men\u2019s teams are Charles Group (Chennai<\/a>), Yadu Sports (Lucknow<\/a>), Vedanta Limited (Odisha), and Resolute Sports (Hyderabad<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sport has a very strong heritage and JSW\u2019s love for Indian sport is well known. But as you can see I am the only woman sitting on the dias and it is the women\u2019s league that really excites me,\u201d Manisha Malhotra, Head \u2013 Sports Excellence and Scouting for JSW Sports Pvt Ltd, said. \u201cThe HIL is going to do wonders for the women. In India, we need platforms like this. We are looking forward to the women\u2019s teams to outshine the men. Indian sports story is connected to women, they are going to be leading the show. If we are going to break the barrier at the Olympics in terms of being in the top 15, it\u2019s the women who will put us there.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWomen\u2019s sport in India is on the rise at a faster pace than men\u2019s, that\u2019s why we were very keen on buying both teams,\u201d former India tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi, who is part of the Delhi ownership, added.<\/p>\n

Tirkey hoped that the league comes at the right moment for women\u2019s hockey in India, who endured a heartbreak by missing out on qualification for Paris Olympics. \u201cThe five seasons of HIL from 2013 gave us a lot of young talent who are now part of the main teams, and are stars who are part of the Olympic medal-winning squads. HIL played a major role in bringing them up to the world-class level. That is the sort of impact we are hoping for the women in this Olympic cycle,\u201d the former India captain added.<\/p>\n

Sustainability was the other buzzword on the day. In his speech, Tirkey called on the franchise owners to communicate with Hockey India if they are having any issues running their teams. Hence the decision to keep the 2024-\u201925 edition of the league to just two venues and not in a home-away format.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur objective is to keep the league going long-term, so we have to keep the franchises\u2019 health in mind. That is why we decided to stick to two venues for the first season at least, and picked cities where we know there is a craze for hockey. If you have watched matches in Ranchi and Rourkela, you\u2019d know,\u201d Tirkey said.<\/p>\n

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A couple of franchise owners too spoke about working together off the field with a common goal to keep the league going strong. \u201cHockey was lacking the involvement of the private sector but all these franchises joining with Hockey India in full force, there will be no stopping the sport now,\u201d Sanjeev Srivastava, Managing Director, Navoyam Sports Ventures Private Limited said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should make sure that HIL is thinking long-term and that can happen only if the franchises work together, and the vision is aligned. Each team will have their objectives, but the league has to create a situation where they connect quickly with the youth of the nation. HIL 1.0 is behind us, and times have changed. Apart from the league\u2019s logo, I request we leave no connection with the previous version. This must be HIL 2.0.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sreejesh with a new role<\/p>\n

One of the early headline-grabbing announcements is PR Sreejesh being named Director of Hockey by the Delhi franchise where he will be reunited with former India head coach Graham Reid (head coach of the men\u2019s team). The legendary Indian goalkeeper, who got a fabulous farewell from international hockey with a second Olympic Games bronze recently, has quickly transitioned into a management role for the Delhi franchise, owned by SG Sports, Media & Entertainment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving hung my boots as a professional athlete, I wish to groom the next generation of hockey players in the country and give back to the sport that has given me so much,\u201d Sreejesh said.<\/p>\n

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KEY FACTS:<\/h2>\n

\u2013 HIL auction on October 13, 14 and 15.
\u2013 Each team will have a 24-player squad, consisting of at least 16 Indians \u2013 with a mandatory inclusion of 4 junior players \u2013 and 8 international stars.
\u2013 Three slabs for players: Rs 2 lakh, 5 lakh and 10 lakh. No upper limit for player recruitment but teams will have a salary cap.
\u2013 Shootouts will be played in case of drawn matches
\u2013 FIH has given the sanction for a window specific for HIL for 10 years, from last week of December to first week of February<\/p>\n

List of Men\u2019s Franchises and their Owners<\/h2>\n

1.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Chennai \u2013 Charles Group
2.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Lucknow \u2013 Yadu Sports
3.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Punjab \u2013 JSW Sports
4.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002West Bengal \u2013 Shrachi Sports
5.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Delhi \u2013 SG Sports and Entertainment
6.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Odisha \u2013 Vedanta Limited
7.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Hyderabad \u2013 Resolute Sports
8.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Ranchi \u2013 Navoyam Sports Ventures Private Limited<\/p>\n

List of Women\u2019s Franchises and their Owners<\/h2>\n

1.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Haryana \u2013 JSW Sports
2.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002West Bengal \u2013 Shrachi Sports
3.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Delhi \u2013 SG Sports and Entertainment
4.\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Odisha \u2013 Navoyam Sports Ventures Private Limited<\/p>\n<\/div>\n