B
ENGALURU Bengaluru: Hockey India League (
HIL) is all set to make a comeback in December this year after a gap of seven years. Indian women's team captain Salima Tete, who hails from Jharkhand, is dreaming of playing the final of the women's league on her home ground early next year.
The midfielder, who was appointed captain after Harendra Singh took charge of the Indian women's hockey team earlier this year, expressed her excitement for the Hockey India League, saying, “I am very excited for the HIL, it is coming again after seven years. And this time with the women's league, the whole team has been discussing for the last few days what a great opportunity it is for us to meet and play with players from different countries. “We'll get a chance to play against them and get better as players.” He said, “This will give youngsters who are not part of the senior team an opportunity to see the daily routine of Indian and foreign players closely. Being exposed to a high-performance professional environment early in their career will do wonders for their development.
I hope HIL will also be beneficial for the players who are out of the team, giving them a chance to compete at the highest level and keep themselves sharp.” The league will begin on December 28, with matches being played at two venues: Jharkhand The Marang Gomke Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi and the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela will conclude on January 26, 2025, while the men's final will be held in Rourkela on February 1. Players for HIL 2024-25. The auction will be held from October 13 to 15. Each franchise will field a squad of 24 players (compulsory inclusion of 4 junior players) and 8 international stars in the auction. Will be divided into three slabs with a base price of Rs 10 lakh each.
“The auction is going to happen soon and there is a buzz around the camp. Since this is the first edition, I would love nothing more than to play for the Ranchi team. Hopefully one of the two remaining women's teams will be there, though. We will be playing half the matches at Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium, so I am not too hung up on it,” said Salima. “Still, it is going to be a great experience to play in a full league. We will be playing for a completely new team, new coach, new teammates and I can't wait for the Hockey India League to start,” she said.
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