he aim of this post is to review some early lessons learned in order to evolve the HIL into a better product for the players, fans and franchise owners.

Where are the Olympic and World Champions?

Nearly 25 of the 96 overseas players who had signed up eventually pulled out of the league. This includes:

• Olympic gold medallists: Tom Boon and Nicolas De Kerpel (BEL); Duco Telgenkamp, Jorrit Croon, Pirmin Blaak and Jonas de Geus (NED)
• World Cup winners: Christopher Ruhr, Tom Grambusch, Jean-Paul Danneberg and Thies Prinz (GER)

Considering that it has been over 4 decades since any Indian player has won either the Olympics or World Cup, the HIL needs to make the extra effort to ensure the participation of the world's best players. Otherwise, the HIL will be nothing more than an extended national championship with a small foreign flair.

Remember that the HIL is an infant compared to hockey leagues in Europe which are decades old, run for months every season, and which consistently attract the best talent in the world. For example, league hockey has been played for over 50 years in England and the Netherlands, for over 80 years in Germany, and for over 100 years in Belgium, leading to gradual European domination of the sport.

Equitable Player Auction

The first lot of players to go under the hammer at the HIL auction was the bronze medal winning Indian hockey team. Starting the auction with Indian players first resulted in flawed auction prices that are not fully based on merit.

For instance, Olympic gold medal winner Tom Boon was purchased for ₹27 lakh, and World Cup winner Christopher Ruhur was purchased for ₹18 lakh, who put together were close to the price of a junior India player Araijeet Singh Hundal (₹42 lakh) with zero Olympics or World Cup experience. Do you pay money for a proven track record or for assumed potential?

Also, Olympic gold medal winner Pirmin Blaak of the Netherlands got a higher price in the 2013 HIL (₹27 lakh) than in the 2024 HIL (₹25 lakh). Over a span of 11 years, shouldn't the Paris Olympics gold medal winner's auction price from the HIL have gone up and not down?

Better Crowd Promotions

The opening day of the HIL, with its glitzy opening ceremony, failed to attract a full house. The same has been the trend in the initial days of the league, where the stands have not filled up. This is not good optics for the fans watching on television, and organisers should think of ways and means to better incentivise the fan base.

A single location HIL is needed to control costs, as this is still a fledgling league. In the long term, however, the sooner the HIL moves to the home-and-away format, the better it would be for building local fan bases who will bring footfalls into the stadium and watch the sport.

No Returning Teams in HIL 2.0?

Was the original product (HIL 2013-2017) so bad that none of the prior franchise owners have returned to the revamped product (HIL 2024-25), despite India having won back-to-back Olympic medals in the interim? Kalinga Lancers is the only returning team from the previous edition, albeit with a different owner.

The cricket franchises in the market-leading IPL took several years to break even. So it is fair to give the HIL a few editions for the sporting model to sustain, grow, and ultimately provide value to all HIL stakeholders.

Divyanshu Singh of JSW Sports, which owns Soorma Hockey Club men's and women's teams, said: "The IPL teams took seven to eight years to break even. The non-cricket teams can take longer. To give you some context, it took us 5 years to break even in the Pro Kabaddi League. In hockey, we're looking at a break-even cycle time of 7-8 years. A lot depends on how the media rights pan out, as that feeds into the central sponsorship which will get divided between all the teams."

Madhav Krishna Singhania, who owns UP Rudras, said: "I feel what may have happened in past HIL editions was that while teams tried to build costs as per the IPL, the revenues in viewership did not come as per the IPL. So, for any league to become sustainable, you start by having lesser costs. When there is more viewership, there will be more revenue coming in from broadcasters and sponsors. Then you will see the players' purses also increase."

Till the HIL reaches equilibrium, we will continue to see anomalies in the Indian sporting ecosystem such as cricketer Rishabh Pant getting an auction price of ₹27 crore, which is the same as the total team purse of 6 HIL men's teams (₹24 crore) and 1.5 HIL women's teams (₹3 crore). In the skewed world of Indian sports, one T20 franchise cricket player can be bought for the equivalent of 144 male and 36 female franchise hockey players, many of whom are Olympic gold medal winners.

2024-25 Hockey India League Opening Ceremony. Photograph credit Shamim Quereshi/Hockey India League

hase I matches of the 2024-25 Hero Hockey India League (HIL) are being played from 28 December, 2024 - 18 January, 2025 at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Raurkela. In Phase I, every team will play each other once in round-robin format.

The 8 participating teams in the 2024-25 HIL are Delhi SG Pipers, Hyderabad Toofans, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, Soorma Hockey Club, Tamil Nadu Dragons, Team Gonasika, UP Rudras, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers

The grand opening ceremony to mark HIL's inauguration was scaled down as a mark of respect to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away on 26 December. Performances by Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan and singer King, which were part of the opening ceremony, were cancelled.

In the inaugural match, Delhi SG Pipers held Team Gonasika 2-2 before taking the bonus point by winning the shootout.

Raurkela will host 40 of the 44 total matches of the men's HIL, including the inaugural match, semi-finals and final. Ranchi will host the remaining four matches.

The points table below will be updated at the end of HIL Phase 1.

	Phase I Round Robin	P	W	L	GF	GA	Pts
	Delhi SG Pipers
	Hyderabad Toofans
	Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers
	Soorma Hockey Club
	Tamil Nadu Dragons
	Team Gonasika
	UP Rudras
	Vedanta Kalinga Lancers

Phase 2 shall commence on the 19th January, 2025, where the 8 teams will be divided into two pools. The top two teams of each pool shall progress to the semifinals, which will be played on 31 January, 2025. The final will be held on the 1st February, 2025.

Sreejesh after India's Olympic bronze medal win over Spain in the Paris Olympics. Photograph credit FIH

he year in review for Indian men's and women's hockey in 2024 is listed below.

Indian Men's Hockey

(1) India won back-to-back Olympic hockey medals (Tokyo, Paris), the only country to do so at the Paris Olympics. The last time India achieved this feat was more than 50 years ago, in the 1972 Munich Olympics.

(2) India beat Australia 3-2 in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The last time India beat Australia in Olympic hockey was more than 50 years ago, in the 1972 Munich Olympics.

(3) India showed their continental supremacy by winning the Asian Champions Trophy in China, and the Junior Asia Cup in Oman.

(4) India getting swept 0-5 by Australia in a 5-test series in Perth, and finishing its lowest-ever 7th in the FIH Pro League marked the lowlights for Indian hockey in 2024.

(5) The revival of the 2024-25 Hockey India League after 7 years was a welcome step. Indian players get to improve by playing with and against the best in the world.

(6) FIH Player of the Year Harmanpreet Singh was India's highest goal scorer in 2024, with 36 goals. The next highest goal scorer for India was Sukhjeet Singh, with 11 goals. No other Indian player crossed double digits.

(7) Retirements - Indian hockey bid a fond farewelll to 'The Wall of Indian hockey' P. R. Sreejesh, who played 328 internationals in a nearly two-decade-long hockey career. Sreejesh retired in a blaze of glory after playing a key role in India's double Olympic bronze medals in Tokyo and Paris.

Indian Women's Hockey

(1) Indian women started the year on a bad note by failing to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics via the home Olympic Qualifiers held in Ranchi in January.

(2) Indian women ended the year on a good note by winning both the Asian Champions Trophy and the Junior Asia Cup titles in December. However, Indian women need to aim beyond continental supremacy if they want to make a mark on the world stage.

(3) The ancient town of Rajgir hosted Bihar's first-ever international hockey tournament when it hosted the Women's Asian Champions in November. This is part of Hockey India's strategy of expanding the reach of hockey beyond urban centres and into the hinterland.

(4) The year saw the retirements of Deep Grace Ekka in January and Rani Rampal in October. They both were part of Indian women's historic 4th-place finish in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

(5) The year saw the resignations of Janneke Schopman as women's team coach, and Elena Norman as the CEO of Hockey India.

Sakshi Rana scores in the penalty shootout against China in the 2024 Junior Women's Asia Cup. Photograph courtesy Hockey India

he 9th Junior Women's Asia Cup was held from December 7 - 15 in Muscat, Oman. Ten teams participated in the tournament, and were grouped into two pools as follows.

• Pool A: China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh
• Pool B: Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, Sri Lanka

Defending champion India successfully retained their title with match results as shown below:

Stage	Date	Result	Goal Scorers - India
Pool	Dec 8	India 13 - Bangladesh 1	Deepika Sehravat (7-PC, 20, 55 min) Manisha (10 min), PC Kanika Sivach (12, 51, 51 min) Mumtaz Khan (27, 32, 53, 58 min) Beauty Dung Dung (33 min), PC Sakshi Rana (43 min)
	Dec 9	India 5 - Malaysia 0	Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke (32 min), PC Deepika Sehravat (37-PC, 39-PS, 48-PC) Kanika Sivach (38 min)
	Dec 11	China 2 - India 1	Deepika Sehravat (56 min)
	Dec 12	India 9 - Thailand 0	Sakshi Rana (17 min) Kanika Sivach (23, 25, 40 min), all PCs Lalrinpuii (27 min) Deepika Sehravat (28-PC, 31-PC, 35, 55 min)
Semis	Dec 14	India 3 - Japan 1	Mumtaz Khan (4 min) Sakshi Rana (5 min) Deepika Sehravat (13 min), PS
Final	Dec 15	India 1 - China 1 (3-2 SO)	Kanika Sivach (41 min)

In the penalty shootout after the 1-1 tie in the final, India's goalkeeper Nidhi saved 3 of 5 attempts by China. For India, Sakshi Rana, Ishika and Sunelita Toppo scored for a 3-2 penalty shootout victory.

Deepika Sehravat of India was the tournament's top goal scorer, with 12 goals.

Hockey India announced a reward of ₹2 lakh for each player and ₹1 lakh to each support staff for winning the championship.

The final standings were: 1 - India, 2 - China, 3 - South Korea, 4 - Japan, 5 - Malaysia, 6 - Thailand, 7 - Chinese Taipei, 8 - Hong Kong China, 9 - Bangladesh, 10 - Sri Lanka.

The teams which finished in the top five - India, China, South Korea, Japan and Malaysia - have qualified for 2025 Junior Women's World Cup, to be held in Santiago, Chile.

The 18-member Indian junior women's team for the 9th Junior Women's Asia Cup was as follows:

Goalkeepers: Nidhi, Aditi Maheshwari

Defenders: Jyoti Singh (captain), Manisha, Lalthantluangi, Pooja Sahoo, Mamata Oram

Midfielders: Sakshi Rana (vice-captain), Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Sunelita Toppo, Ishika, Rajni Kerketta, Khaidem Shileima Chanu

Forwards: Deepika Sehravat , Beauty Dungdung, Kanika Sivach, Mumtaz Khan, Lalrinpuii

Officials: Chief Coach - Tushar Khandkar, Manager - Kavita Nambisan

Article by Bhanuj Kuppal, courtesy GQ India

he January 2025 Photograph of the Month is of GQ India's Sportsman of the Year - Harmanpreet Singh. GQ India, a popular men's magazine, had listed trendsetters across films, fashion, culture and sports who made notable contributions in their respective fields in 2024.

The magazine had the following writeup on their Sportsman of the Year choice.

"Harmanpreet Singh played a key role in breaking India's 41-year medal drought at the Olympics, his goals powering the team to a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Four years later, he did it again, this time as the team captain. His leadership, and his ability to deliver in clutch moments, have earned him the nickname "Sarpanch Sahab".

He's a three-time winner of the FIH Player of the Year award, international hockey's most prestigious individual accolade. To top it off, Punjab's Soorma Hockey Club paid ₹78 lakh for his services at this year's Hockey India League auction, making him the league's most expensive player.

With all these achievements under his belt, you'd forgive Harmanpreet for a little bit of ego, the chip on the shoulder that comes with being recognized as one of the best in the world. But Harmanpreet remains humble and soft-spoken, a real son of the soil. When we sit down for a chat, he's patient and deliberative, punctuating his responses with a respectful "sir".

"My father keeps me grounded," he says, speaking over Zoom from his home in Amritsar. "Even when I won an Olympic medal, after two days of celebration, I got a message from my father saying 'Bas, ab ho gaya'. Get back to work, focus on your next goal. Don't get too satisfied."

Born into a farming family in Punjab's Timmowal village, Harmanpreet learnt the virtues of hard work early, watching his father Sarabjeet Singh toil in the fields. Though they came from a humble background, his father was diligent in encouraging his two sons to take advantage of every opportunity they got, whether it was in academics, sports, or even music.

Hockey, surprisingly, came into his life relatively late. In class six, during the break after his first semester exams, Harmanpreet turned up to school for sports selection trials. Only a handful of other students had shown up, and there was just one coach in attendance - Mr Randhawa - who taught hockey at the school.

It didn't take long for Harmanpreet to impress coaches with his talent. At 12, he left home to join the Malwa Academy in Ludhiana, before moving to the prestigious Surjit Singh Academy in Jalandhar three years later.

Harmanpreet made his debut for the India junior team in 2014, scoring 9 goals at the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia and winning the Man of the Tournament award. A string of impressive performances at the junior level earned him his first call-up to the senior team in 2015, at just 19 years old.

He scored a couple of crucial goals in the 2016 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, and won the Young Player of the Tournament award at that year's Champions Trophy. There were a few hiccups along the way - especially a disappointing team performance at the 2016 Rio Olympics - but Harmanpreet never looked back.

By the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, he had become one of the most prolific goal scorers in international hockey. He kept up that form during the Olympics, scoring crucial goals as India won its first Olympic medal in 41 years.

Four years later, now team captain, Harmanpreet led his team to another podium finish, extending India's record to 13 medals in hockey at the Olympics. His leadership was instrumental, particularly in the thrilling quarterfinal match against Great Britain, where the team persevered despite going down to 10 men in just the 17th minute.

For now, Harmanpreet is enjoying some well-earned time off at home with his wife and his 16-month-old daughter. He's looking forward to his favourite pastime - driving around rural Punjab in his prized Toyota Fortuner, while listening to Punjabi and Bollywood tunes."

Hair and Make-up: Anuradha Raman
Entertainment Director: Megha Mehta
Production: Nafromax Production; Shubhra Shukla.
Fashion Assistant: Vedika Vora.

The victorious Indian women's hockey team after the final. Photograph by R. V. Moorthy courtesy Sportstar

ero MotoCorp, the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, has signed on as the Title Sponsor of the Hockey India League (HIL) for the next three seasons, starting from 2024-25.

Speaking on the partnership, Sanjay Bhan, Executive Vice President, Hero MotoCorp, said, "Hero MotoCorp is deeply committed to nurturing and supporting sports globally, with a special emphasis on India. Hockey holds a unique place in our hearts, reflecting our nation's rich sporting heritage. The Hero Hockey India League is more than just a competition - it's a celebration of our shared passion for the sport, an inspiration for future athletes, and a unifier for communities."

Speaking about the association, Dr. Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India President, said "Hero MotoCorp has always been a pioneer in supporting Indian sports, and their association with the Hero Hockey India League will elevate the tournament's stature. Together, we aim to make this league a true celebration of hockey as #IndiaKaGame."

HIL has the following sponsors and partners.

• Title Sponsor: Hero MotoCorp
• Broadcast Partners: DD Sports, Sony Sports Network
• Streaming Partner: Prasar Bharati Waves
• Radio Partner: BigFM
• Medical Partner: Apollo Hospitals
• Hydration Partner: Bisleri

The HIL, which began on 28 December, 2024, will feature eight teams in the men's league, and, for the first time, four teams in the women's league.

Image credit Sony Sports Network

he Hero Hockey India League (HIL) has signed 3-year partnerships with both Prasar Bharati (DD Sports) and Sony Sports Network for telecast of the men's and women's league matches. Accordingly, HIL matches will be telecast live on the following broadcast platforms:

• Doordarshan: DD Sports
• Sony: Sony Sports Ten 1 (English), Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil and Telugu)
• Prasar Bharati OTT: Waves

Outside India, Sony SAB has acquired HIL broadcasting rights for the United Kingdom.

Rajesh Kaul, Sony Sports Network India's Chief Revenue Officer said, "Interest in hockey in India has seen a rise since the Indian men's team won the bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games - their first Olympic hockey medal in 40 years. The Indian team's continued sucesses at the 2024 Paris Olympics has contributed to the resurgence of the sport. We are excited about this three-season partnership with the HIL, and see it as a key step toward establishing ourselves as the 'Home of Hockey' in India."

Fans watching the games on television will be in for a treat as 16 cameras will be deployed at the hosting stadium. Advanced graphics will provide detailed insights into gameplay, such as goal breakdowns, player movements, passing speeds, angles, and the time taken by goalkeepers to make saves. Additionally, features like drag-flick speed and penalty stroke speed will be highlighted, giving viewers a deeper understanding of the game's nuances.

Image courtesy Hockey India

his month's edition of records and statistics is on the Junior Women's Asia Cup hockey tournament. This tournament serves as a qualification tournament for Asian teams for the Junior Women's World Cup.

• Only 3 countries have won the 9 Junior Women's Asia Cup editions held so far - South Korea (4), China (3) and India (2)
• 3 countries have participated in all 9 editions of the tournament - China, Japan and South Korea. India did not participate in the 1996 tournament
• The host country has won the tournament in just 1 of the 9 editions - 2015 tournament in Changzhou, which was won by China
• The highest match score in the tournament is Japan 24 - Kazakhstan 0 in the 2012 edition held in Bangkok
• The most goals scored in a single match is 6 by Annu in India's 22-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the 2023 tournament held in Kakamigahara
• The most goals scored in the Junior Women's Asia Cup tournament is 11 goals by Gu Bingfeng of China

Year	Host City	Host Country	Gold	Silver	Bronze
1992	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia	South Korea	China	India
1996	Shirane	Japan	South Korea	China	Japan
2000	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia	South Korea	China	India
2004	Hyderabad	India	China	South Korea	India
2008	Seremban	Malaysia	South Korea	China	India
2012	Bangkok	Thailand	China	India	South Korea
2015	Changzhou	China	China	Japan	South Korea
2023	Kakamigahara	Japan	India	South Korea	Japan
2024	Muscat	Oman	India	China	South Korea