After a seven-year hiatus, the highly anticipated return of the Hockey India League (HIL) was officially confirmed in Delhi. Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey announced the teams and franchise owners for the 2024 edition, with eight men’s teams and six women’s teams set to compete. For the first time in HIL’s history, a women’s league will run concurrently, with more franchises than initially expected.
More Teams, Bigger Stakes
In its previous iteration, the Hockey India League only featured men’s teams. However, with the return of HIL, a women’s division has been introduced. Originally, only four women’s teams were proposed, but the league has since expanded to six. Four of these franchises have already been confirmed, with two more expected to be finalized before the upcoming auction.
Are you excited for this grand comeback of Hockey India League? 🏑
First press conference of the league commencing in the next 1 hour.
Stay tuned for more details on teams joining in us in this journey. #HockeyIndiaLeague #HIL #FirUthegiHockey pic.twitter.com/nTJftLAfHw
— Hockey India League (@HockeyIndiaLeag) October 4, 2024
The eight men’s teams, along with their respective owners and cities, are:
- Charles Group (Chennai)
- Yadu Sports (Lucknow)
- JSW Sports (Punjab and Haryana)
- Shrachi Sports (Kolkata)
- SG Sports and Entertainment (Delhi)
- Vedanta Limited (Odisha)
- Resolute Sports (Hyderabad)
- Navoyam Sports Ventures Private Limited (Ranchi)
On the women’s side, four confirmed teams are:
- JSW Sports (Punjab and Haryana)
- Shrachi Sports (Kolkata)
- SG Sports and Entertainment (Delhi)
- Navoyam Sports Ventures Private Limited (Odisha)
The two remaining women’s teams will be announced prior to the player auction.
Player Auction Schedule
HIL’s General Secretary, Bholanath Singh, confirmed that the player auction will take place from October 13 to 15 in New Delhi. During this period, franchises will have the opportunity to secure top talent, with players from 15 different nations expected to be in the pool. A window has been set between the last week of December 2024 and the first week of February 2025 for the tournament, ensuring a dedicated time slot for the league over the next five years.
The Last Edition Of HIL
The last edition of HIL took place in 2017, featuring six teams—Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Ranchi, and Lucknow—competing in a home-away format. The Kalinga Lancers from Bhubaneswar claimed the title. This year’s expansion, including more teams and the introduction of the women’s division, signals a new chapter for the league as it gears up for a highly competitive season.
MUST READ: Shafali Verma On Playing At MCG: I Couldn’t Hear…
