HIL relaunch an opportunityto revive hockey’s golden past

The relaunch of Hockey India League (HIL) is a mission to rediscover the golden past of Indian hockey. Starting Dec 28, this league has the potential to become a milestone in many ways if lessons are learnt from past experiences.With the game on the revival path in the country, with two back to back Olympics medals, there could not have been a better time to relaunch the HIL. When a sport performs well, public interest grows, television revenues increase, corporate sponsors come forward, and the sport gains momentum. However, reaching that stage takes time, and resources are needed for survival.The first attempt to revive hockey was made in the early 2000s when one sponsor walked out and the Indian team did not have one. The Sahara group then stepped in just before the Australia tour. The Indian Hockey Federation was not sufficiently financed to host a camp for the team, therefore, a full-fledged camp for the team was held in Sahara Shaher in Lucknow, prior to Asia Cup. Later, the team was sent to Germany for training. Efforts for revival extended beyond the field when an advertising campaign to promote the national sport was launched with megastar Amitabh Bachchan.As a sports administrator, I had the opportunity to be a part of the journey where hockey was transitioning from Indian Hockey Federation to Hockey India, and I moved on to become the vice-president of Asian Hockey Federation.Then the first Hockey India League (HIL) was launched with much fanfare in 2013. The leading centres covering the entire span of the country found representation in the form of franchises. The leading players and coaches all swarmed to India and the result was the shaping of a world class league. We represented UP through our franchise UP Wizards. Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans was appointed as coach, and the team included players like PR Sreejesh, VR Raghunath, Akashdeep, and Ramandeep. International stars like Argentina's Gonzalo Peillat, Sander Baart of the Netherlands, and Australia's Eddie Ockenden were also included.Despite fanfare, HIL suffered a setback as franchises were not making money and not all of them had the reserves to sustain the gestation period required to build a property. Ranchi had to be bailed out where I was at the helm of discussions that resulted in MS Dhoni co-owning the rechristened Ranchi Rays. I also brought in Suresh Raina to be the face of UP Wizards. Today's stars like Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, and Mandeep Singh emerged from the initial HIL. But the collapse was imminent, with more franchises failing.Hence, a cautious approach would be wise for the relaunch of the league. The learnings that more financially stable stakeholders with an appetite to stay invested till the time returns start coming in should be onboarded has hopefully been heeded. Hockey requires support so that it can stand up and run on its own feet. This is not merely an act of charity but also an opportunity for investors to reap returns.This time, the league will feature eight men's and four women's teams. The league will not follow the home-and-away format, with all men's matches being held in Rourkela and all women's matches in Ranchi. Both these places are hubs for hockey enthusiasts. Holding matches in only two locations will reduce travel costs. However, initial financial challenges for franchises are anticipated, so efficient management will be essential. Though a dampener for the fans, this is a sensible approach to make the sport viable.Given UP's contribution to Indian hockey with legends like Major Dhyanchand, KD Singh 'Babu', Md Shahid, Zafar Iqbal, Ashok Kumar, RP Singh, Jagbir Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, and Tushar Khandker who have brought glory to the nation in international tournaments, preserving this proud history is our responsibility.With Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's interest in sports, the hockey community should seek his support.Odisha's former CM Naveen Patnaik's contribution has played a key role in reviving hockey. Similarly, the second edition of HIL 2.0 can be organized in UP, back to the roots from where it all started.The UP Rudras team in the new league includes Hardik Singh, who is the captain, Akashdeep Singh, Simranjeet Singh, and Lalit Upadhyay. Coached by a stalwart like Cedric D'Souza, the combination looks strong. The league begins on Dec 28.(Writer is former vice-president Asian Hockey Federation; CEO, UP Wizards and chief adviser, Ranchi Rays in the first phase of HIL)The relaunch of Hockey India League (HIL) is a mission to rediscover the golden past of Indian hockey. Starting Dec 28, this league has the potential to become a milestone in many ways if lessons are learnt from past experiences.With the game on the revival path in the country, with two back to back Olympics medals, there could not have been a better time to relaunch the HIL. When a sport performs well, public interest grows, television revenues increase, corporate sponsors come forward, and the sport gains momentum. However, reaching that stage takes time, and resources are needed for survival.The first attempt to revive hockey was made in the early 2000s when one sponsor walked out and the Indian team did not have one. The Sahara group then stepped in just before the Australia tour. The Indian Hockey Federation was not sufficiently financed to host a camp for the team, therefore, a full-fledged camp for the team was held in Sahara Shaher in Lucknow, prior to Asia Cup. Later, the team was sent to Germany for training. Efforts for revival extended beyond the field when an advertising campaign to promote the national sport was launched with megastar Amitabh Bachchan.As a sports administrator, I had the opportunity to be a part of the journey where hockey was transitioning from Indian Hockey Federation to Hockey India, and I moved on to become the vice-president of Asian Hockey Federation.Then the first Hockey India League (HIL) was launched with much fanfare in 2013. The leading centres covering the entire span of the country found representation in the form of franchises. The leading players and coaches all swarmed to India and the result was the shaping of a world class league. We represented UP through our franchise UP Wizards. Dutch coach Roelant Oltmans was appointed as coach, and the team included players like PR Sreejesh, VR Raghunath, Akashdeep, and Ramandeep. International stars like Argentina's Gonzalo Peillat, Sander Baart of the Netherlands, and Australia's Eddie Ockenden were also included.Despite fanfare, HIL suffered a setback as franchises were not making money and not all of them had the reserves to sustain the gestation period required to build a property. Ranchi had to be bailed out where I was at the helm of discussions that resulted in MS Dhoni co-owning the rechristened Ranchi Rays. I also brought in Suresh Raina to be the face of UP Wizards. Today's stars like Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, and Mandeep Singh emerged from the initial HIL. But the collapse was imminent, with more franchises failing.Hence, a cautious approach would be wise for the relaunch of the league. The learnings that more financially stable stakeholders with an appetite to stay invested till the time returns start coming in should be onboarded has hopefully been heeded. Hockey requires support so that it can stand up and run on its own feet. This is not merely an act of charity but also an opportunity for investors to reap returns.This time, the league will feature eight men's and four women's teams. The league will not follow the home-and-away format, with all men's matches being held in Rourkela and all women's matches in Ranchi. Both these places are hubs for hockey enthusiasts. Holding matches in only two locations will reduce travel costs. However, initial financial challenges for franchises are anticipated, so efficient management will be essential. Though a dampener for the fans, this is a sensible approach to make the sport viable.Given UP's contribution to Indian hockey with legends like Major Dhyanchand, KD Singh 'Babu', Md Shahid, Zafar Iqbal, Ashok Kumar, RP Singh, Jagbir Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, and Tushar Khandker who have brought glory to the nation in international tournaments, preserving this proud history is our responsibility.With Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's interest in sports, the hockey community should seek his support.Odisha's former CM Naveen Patnaik's contribution has played a key role in reviving hockey. Similarly, the second edition of HIL 2.0 can be organized in UP, back to the roots from where it all started.The UP Rudras team in the new league includes Hardik Singh, who is the captain, Akashdeep Singh, Simranjeet Singh, and Lalit Upadhyay. Coached by a stalwart like Cedric D'Souza, the combination looks strong. The league begins on Dec 28.(Writer is former vice-president Asian Hockey Federation; CEO, UP Wizards and chief adviser, Ranchi Rays in the first phase of HIL)
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword. Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes, messages, and quotes.