“Indian hockey’s history is huge and we are trying our best to make it better. Bas ek request hai ki aap hockey ko pyaar deejiye.”
Soaking in the sweat after India’s bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, captain Harmanpreet Singh had a message to fans in India. “Give love to Indian hockey,” he told the broadcasters. On the back of two straight Olympic bronze medals – after four decades of returning empty-handed – Harmanpreet can be assured that the love for the sport in the country is on the upswing. The thousands of hockey tragics in India don’t just have heartbreaks to bond over anymore. There is success to relish.
It is against this backdrop that the Hockey India League returns after a 7-year hiatus.
The eight-team men’s tournament begins on Saturday at the magnificent Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. Former India coach Graham Reid will be in the dugout for Delhi SG Pipers, a franchise that has roped in PR Sreejesh as the Director. They will take on Team Gonasika, led by Manpreet Singh. All three men, of course, played an integral part in India’s bronze medal in Tokyo.
Another man who has seen Indian hockey from close quarters for the better part of the last decade in various roles is Australia’s David John. He is back with the Kalinga Lancers as Strategy Director and feels that the league is restarting at a good time. The iron is hot.
“HIL made a big difference for young Indian players from 2013 to 2017. India has benefited from that with two bronze medals at the Olympics,” John told The Indian Express from Rourkela. “This current group can go one more cycle, but after that, you’ll need the junior players to come through, and they require this international experience. And yes, I classify these games as international matches because of the high level of intensity, tactics, and coaching. In 2016, most of the Junior World Cup team had played 40 or 50 ‘international’ matches because of their franchise play, which benefited them.”
Indeed, Harmanpreet and Manpreet are just two examples of players who benefited immensely from the previous iteration of HIL. John remembered how Mandeep Singh – India’s go-to forward in recent years – also found his launchpad in the league. “He was in my team in 2013. He burst onto the scene out of nowhere, scoring nine field goals, and that launched his career. He never looked back. I’m sure there will be young players in every franchise who suddenly gain prominence, and the public will see them for the first time and go ‘wow, we have a great future here’,” John said.
Away from the field, John said the league is also about socialising for young Indians. Just interacting with other players, including their heroes, and realising they are just human. They no longer feel intimidated by their reputation. “It breaks down barriers, and you start feeling like equals,” he said, adding that a young group of local Odisha players at Kalinga Lancers have the chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Thierry Brinkman and Arthur Van Doren, legends of the game.
Challenging road
There will be challenges. A murky business model and financial issues for team owners were primary factors for HIL 1.0 to come to a halt in 2017. While there is palpable excitement among various stakeholders for HIL 2.0 – chief among them former India captain and Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey – there is also a cautious approach to the first edition. The federation took its time to deliberate over ownership models, finances, and logistics, and waited a long time to get a dedicated window for the league from the international governing body FIH – all key to ensure the league doesn’t run into roadblocks. For the first season, HI has decided to host the men’s edition almost entirely in Rourkela while the inaugural women’s edition will take place in Ranchi.
“It comes down to each franchise managing their finances correctly. Investors want to avoid losing money. Breaking even and getting exposure for advertisers and sponsors is crucial. Good management is essential for the league’s continuation,” John said.
“Playing at one venue – a world-class facility that even foreign players are excited to play at – reduces costs for franchises. Some teams’ fans will be disappointed, I understand. This stadium has an unbelievable atmosphere when it’s full and a good atmosphere makes for good viewing. It makes for a better product. HIL 1.0 didn’t always have that at all venues,” he added.
Sreejesh, during The Indian Express’ Idea Exchange, listed out a few factors for HIL 2.0 to succeed: “We need more viewers. That’s essential. The second thing is the media… Just good visual coverage is crucial for better reach. The third thing is how you are going to sell this game. And the fourth is sponsors. Then there are also the byproducts. After this, how are you continuing with HIL? We (Delhi SG Pipers) plan to build our own academy, get into states, find players, and bring them into our fold. From there, we aim to produce our own players, who will play in the HIL in the future. The first year may be uncertain, but I believe the second year onward, it will reach the next level.”
As Manpreet said in an interview with this daily after India’s Paris bronze: “We are now at a stage where the sport is ready to explode.” And a successful return of HIL is critical for that.
I’m Manas Ranjan Sahoo: Founder of “Webtirety Software”. I’m a Full-time Software Professional and an aspiring entrepreneur, dedicated to growing this platform as large as possible. I love to Write Blogs on Software, Mobile applications, Web Technology, eCommerce, SEO, and about My experience with Life.
