Confusion around HIL-revival talks between Hockey India and FIH: How Hockey India League’s impact on Indian hockey was immense and why its relaunch is imperative




The lucrative Hockey India League (HIL) is likely to be re-launched early next year as the national federation on Monday announced its exclusive commercial and marketing partner for the event.

HIL was stopped after the 2017 edition due to financial issues and Hockey India (HI) is now looking new partners to revive the league.
"The HIL was a big success for the game and we are now in the process of reviving the league early next year," a HI source told PTI.

India hockey player Jarmanpreet Singh still remembers how excited he felt when he was signed on by the Punjab Warriors for the 2015 Hockey India League season. It was a star-studded side that featured the likes of Jamie Dwyer, Mark Knowles, Chris Ciriello, and Shivendra Singh. For the then 19-year-old budding defender, hoping to play with the big names in the sport, this was an opportunity to get a running start.

Jarmanpreet, now a mainstay in the Indian team, is one of the many national team members who got their big break playing in the HIL over the course of the five editions until it shuttered up after the 2017 season.

Back then, Hockey India suspended the league for the 2018 season citing a packed international calendar with the FIH Pro League debuting. However, with three of the five teams in poor financial state, it was only a matter of time before the league shut shop.

However, under former India captain Dilip Tirkey, now the president of Hockey India, plans have been set in motion to relaunch the HIL, as well as reportedly begin a women’s league to build on their growth over the recent years. In a first step towards reviving the league, HI signed a contract with Big Bang Media Ventures Pvt Ltd, making it HIL’s exclusive commercial and marketing partner agency.

With HI planning to start the league after the Paris Olympics next year, former players and coaches believe the revival of the league is a step in the right direction for Indian hockey.

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