The much-anticipated Hockey India League (HIL) is set to return in a new avatar next year or in early 2025, with Hockey India setting its sight on reviving the franchise-based league after a hiatus of seven years. (More Hockey News)
The HIL, which was suspended in 2017 due to financial issues and non-cooperation from team owners, is expected to be held after the Paris Olympics and will feature an event for the women fo🍷r the first time.
The new HI body under Olympian Dilip Tirkey plans to rejuvenate the hockey scenario in the country by providing exposure to budding players th🥃rough the HIL.
HI has requested the Internatﷺional Hockey Federation (FIH) for a window to coꦏnduct the tournament next year and is awaiting a response from the world body.
"We haven't got any window as yet, but we have asked FIH for a window. We have 🐠asked a window after the Olympics, sometime in December nꩵext year or January in 2025," Tirkey told PTI in an exclusive interaction.
"Weℱ are still waiting for official communication from FIH.
"We are planning to conduct the HIL for both men and women this time. Earlier it used to be just for men, but we want our women players🎶 to get the exposure too.&quo🍌t;
As per HI's plans, the revamped HIL will have eig🏅ht men and four women's teams.
HI has also roped in Big Bang Media Ventures as its com🌊mercial and marketing partner agency.
"In men there would be eight teams, while🍒 in women there would be four teams," Tirk𒉰ey said.
"Big Bang is our 🥂commercial partner🗹. They are looking into all the formalities and working on war-footing to revive the league.
"HIL will provide exposure to young players of the country.🌜 It's a big platform for them because all the top plaꦓyers of the world would participate in it. They will gain valuable experience by rubbing shoulders with the best of world hockey," he added.
It has been learnt that HI is scheduled to hold a meeting with all the stakeholders of the game, including its commercial partners on July 5 here to decide the futur🧸e course of action about the league.
HI secretary general Bhola Nath Singh also confirmed that HIL will be introduced in a new version next year and💛 the national federation is leaving no stone unturned to make the league a big success.
"HIL is our baby and we want to bring it back in a much bigger way. It was one of our election agꦗenda and we are working on war-fo♒oting to make it a big success," Bhola Nath said.
"The new HIL will be launched in a much 𓃲bigger and grand scale than its previous veꦇrsion."
The HIL, founded in 2013, was played between six te☂ams, with the regular season lasting two 🍸months from January to February, with each team playing 10 games.
The top four teams at the end of the seas𒅌on moved into the play-offs, where thౠe championship game decided the HIL winner.
The last champion of the HIL was Kalinga Lancers, who🎃 won t🌊he tournament in 2017.
Ra🌱nchi Rhinos, Delhi Waveriders, Ranchi Rays and Punjab Warriors have also won the league.
