Hockey India League - A New Era for both Men and Women Hockey in India

The return of Hockey India League (HIL), which had been anticipated and waited for months now is finally here. Given the fact that the last season of HIL witnessed was in 2017, the country has got this much needed sports fill-up. After all those years, the competition is back for men but it happens to be a first event in the field for women who compete in the league. Revival comes at an interesting time as Indian men have been putting up an exemplary performance for two consecutive Olympic bronze medals. The revamped league will fuel the hockey momentum in the country even further, with the men as well as the women looking to gain much exposure at the global stage.

The first HIL in 2013 played a great role in transforming Indian hockey. India was ranked 11th in the world and third in Asia before the tournament. The last Olympic medal won by India was in 1980. The league was a platform where Indian players got the chance to prove their talents and play with international superstars, which helped the team eventually enhance its standards of performance. Such talented players were those players who started their practice initially in the HIL itself, like Mandeep Singh, Manpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, and PR Sreejesh before starting their journey to winning medals in the Olympics of the years 2021 and 2024. Right now, India stands in the fifth position all across the world and has stood as the best Asian Team.

The success story behind the HIL lies in the fact that it gave the club culture a new look. Which was lacking amongst the Indians. It proved to be a launch platform for so many players; they could learn from some of the world's hockey talent. Indian midfielder Manpreet Singh, who plied his trade with Ranchi Rhinos between 2013 and 2017, confirms that this league has done all the good. "Playing with world-class players helped me improve my game and boost my confidence," says Manpreet. Similarly, Amit Rohidas, a defender, claims the HIL as an important shift in his career. Omitted from the national side for a few years, the HIL gave him the platform, which saw him return to the senior team and deliver success both with Ranchi Rays and Kalinga Lancers.

As the HIL returns for its second edition, it promises to continue nurturing young talent and offering opportunities for players to break into the national team. The addition of the women's league is a huge milestone, especially after the Indian women's team narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and failed to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, the success at the Women's Asian Champions Trophy has rejuvenated the team to ninth in the world rankings. The HIL for women could not have arrived at a better time. Players like Odisha Warriors' Ishika Chaudhary are now looking forward to playing with international stars like Netherlands' Yibbi Jansen, the FIH Women's Player of the Year and Olympic gold medalist. Ishika believes that experience of playing against such a player will be a shot in the arm for this team much like what happened with the men earlier.

The auction of the 2024 season made a huge change regarding the balance of this league. Indian players dominated the marquee set unlike the initial years of the league where foreign players dominated the set. The top three bids in the men’s auction were all for Indian players, reflecting the growing recognition of Indian talent in global hockey. Hardik Singh, for example, was purchased for Rs 70 lakh, more than double his price in 2016, highlighting his rising stature in the sport. The women's auction produced a highest-priced player when Indian defender Udita sold at Rs 32 lakh, with that sale being a harbinger for good times in Indian women's hockey.

Now, the women's league currently only has four teams but has plans to expand on that number in the coming several years. Salima Tete, who plays as a midfielder for Soorma Hockey Club, is confident and optimistic about the women's league and feels that adding more teams will further help increase the overall competition played out in the league. As the women's league increases, it is projected to gain more momentum due to the increased popularity, as well as more extensive media coverage.

Besides the action on the fields, the HIL will also give exposure to fresh players who will learn novel tactics and ideas from coaching staff from other countries. Ten of the 12 teams will be coached by foreign experts, giving these players a new perspective to the game. Pasha Gademan, the coach of Toofans (men) believes this will be an influx that would be international for the players to identify themselves where they stand in comparison with the rest. Cedric D'Souza is the technical director of the UP Rudras and the former national coach; his ambitions for the future are quite huge. According to him, by 2028, the Indian men's team would bag an Olympic gold and by 2032, the women's team would win its maiden gold.

The revival of the Hockey India League marks a new page in the history of Indian hockey as both the male and female teams will derive benefits from the increased publicity and the competitive environment provided by this league. When the league matures, it will indeed be a major stepping stone for players that aspire for international success; it would help them shoot to newer heights on the world platform.