Harmanpreet Singh, the captain of the Indian men’s hockey team and a renowned drag-flicker, has attributed his remarkable career growth to the Hockey India League (HIL). The ace player, who has scored an impressive 205 goals in 234 international appearances, believes the league has been instrumental in his journey from being named the Upcoming Player of the Tournament in the 2017 HIL to becoming one of the world’s top drag-flickers.
He highlighted how the league provided him with an invaluable platform to hone his skills and learn from diverse playing styles under different coaches. “Hockey India League was a huge part of my development. The league provided me with a stage to enhance my skills by exposing me to different playing styles under different coaches,” Harmanpreet said in a Hockey India (HI) release. “Playing in a League, sharing a dressing room with players from various countries opens up your mind and provides you with multiple perspectives and ways of thinking. All this was integral in the resurgence of Indian hockey and it certainly impacted our performance at the Tokyo Olympics, where we won the bronze medal.”
The return of the HIL after a seven-year absence is set to further bolster Indian hockey, with Harmanpreet expressing his strong belief in its potential. He stated, “There could be nothing better for Indian hockey than the HIL and all the country’s players would be excited to take part in the League.” He emphasized the league’s significance for young players, who will have the opportunity to learn from the best in the world. “It will be a great opportunity for the youngsters as well to rub shoulders with the best players from across the globe, observe the subtle differences in the way they think, the way they play and try to inculcate the good habits that they notice,” he said.
The HIL is set to return in a revamped format, featuring a women’s tournament for the first time, running concurrently with the men’s event. The league will be held in two venues – Rourkela for men and Ranchi for women – from December 28 to February 1. The tournament, sanctioned for 10 years by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), will feature eight men’s and six women’s franchises.
Harmanpreet expressed his confidence in the positive impact the league will have on the Indian women’s team. “The Hockey India League will be much bigger this time; there will also be a women’s League that will run at the same time in both venues. I am confident this experience will turn out to be invaluable for the Indian women’s hockey team in their journey to be one of the best teams in the world,” he stated.
The player auction for the HIL 2024-25 is scheduled for October 13-15 in New Delhi. Each franchise will assemble a 24-player squad, comprising at least 16 Indian players (including four junior players) and eight international stars. Players will be auctioned in three categories, with base prices of Rs. 2 lakh, 5 lakh, and 10 lakh.
Harmanpreet concluded by expressing his excitement for the upcoming auction and his eagerness to contribute to the resurgence of Indian hockey. “The auction is coming up soon and I would like to wish all the best to all the players taking part. As for myself, I cannot wait to see which team I will represent and begin the hockey revolution again,” he signed off.
