The Hockey India League, which has this year attracted Coal India as its new title sponsor, showcases a glittering array of elite men's hockey players from both within India and around the world.
The players are auctioned to one of six franchised teams who will play each other in venues in six cities across India – Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Ranchi and Lucknow.
The competing teams this year are: Jaypee Punjab Warriors, Delhi Waveriders, Kalinga Lancers, Uttar Pradesh Wizards, Dabang Mumbai and last year’s winners, the Ranchi Rays.
This tournament is a great chance not only for India's best players, but also athletes from across the world to come together in a high quality tournament.
Dabang Mumbai captain, India's Nikkin Thimmaiah, said: “We have a lot to learn from the international players at the Coal India Hockey League, and to play in the league is a completely different experience, which all of us look forward to each year.”
Captain of the Jaypee Punjab Warriors is India captain Sardar Singh. He said: “This tournament is very critical for all of us this year, as most of the international players will be playing here, and it is up to us to watch them carefully and prepare ourselves for the Olympics later this year.”
The opening match of the tournament will take place between the Kalinga Lancers, who made the biggest buy of the season in German superstar Moritz Fuerste, and the Uttar Pradesh Wizards, who paid the highest amount for an India player when they drafted in young Indian forward Akashdeep Singh.
Top goal scorer in last year’s edition of the event was Ashley Jackson. The Great Britain and England midfielder is captaining the defending champions, Ranchi Rays and says he is looking forward to defending the title, adding: “All our opponents are equally competitive so we cannot take any match lightly.”
Some of the other elite international players competing in this year's Coal India Hockey India League include Germany's 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medallist Tobias Hauke, who will line up alongside Argentinian stars Gonzalo Peillat, top scorer at last year's Hero Hockey World League Final, and Agustin Mazzilli, as well as Australian legend Jamie Dywer at Uttar Pradesh Wizards.
England and Great Britain captain Barry Middleton will be turning out for the Ranchi Rays while another German looking to make an impact will be Florian Fuchs. The 24 year old German striker, who was awarded the FIH Young Player of the Year in 2012 will be playing for Dabang Mumbai.
Elsewhere, 2014 FIH World Player of the Year Mark Knowles joins Australian teammate Chris Cirellio at the Jaypee Punjab Warriors, while New Zealand's Simon Child joins Canada's Mark Pearson, Austrian Benjamin Stanzl, and South African Justin Reid-Ross who will all be representing Delhi Waveriders.
The competition is also a good opportunity for top level coaches to work with a galaxy of hockey players. Cedric d’Souza is coach to the Delhi Waveriders and he is delighted with the players he has available this season.
He said: “We did put up a good show with a podium position finish in the last edition of the Hockey India League, but I believe with each new season we should set different expectations. The Indians and overseas players are gelling pretty well and it will really help the team to play as one unit or dictate the terms in any match.”
For the players, not only is this is a great way to gain a very different form of international experience, but there are also cash rewards for the winning team, the runners-up and the players voted Man of the Match on each occasion.
All the Coal India Hockey India League matches can be viewed live from 18 January on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports HD 2 in English, Star Sports 3 and Star Sports HD 3 in Hindi, and on Star’s Digital platform, hotstar.
For more information about the Hockey India League, and to keep up with all the scores and action, click on their official website here.
The Coal India Hockey India League is hugely important competition which is helping create a powerful image of hockey, whilst also building professionalism throughout the sport. Additionally, competitions like this are creating exciting events which are attracting many more fans into the sport. All of these factors are important components of the FIH Hockey Revolution aimed at making hockey a global game that inspires the next generation.
Photo: Coal India Hockey India League
