Bengaluru, Oct 8 (Agency) Team India Hockey Captain Salima Tete on Tuesday suggested that the inclusion of a Women’s League running concurrently with the men’s Hockey India League this December demonstrates a growing commitment to gender equality in Indian sports.”I am very excited for HIL; it is restarting after seven years and with a Women’s League this time,” she said. The revamped HIL 2024-25 is set to make waves, featuring eight men’s teams and six women’s teams, marking a significant milestone as the first standalone women’s league in the country, running concurrently with the men’s competition.The league will kick off on December 28, with matches held at two prestigious venues: the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Odisha. The Women’s League will conclude on January 26 next year in Ranchi, while the Men’s Final is slated for February 1, 2025 in Rourkela.Expressing her excitement further, Salima remarked, “The whole team has been discussing what a great opportunity this is for us over the last few days. We will get to mingle with players from different nationalities, play with them, play against them, and improve as players. “Salima highlighted the league’s potential impact on young players, stating, “It will give youngsters who aren’t a part of the Senior Team a chance to see the daily routines of Indian players and foreign players up close.
Being in a high-performance, professional environment early in their career will do wonders for their development. I expect the HIL will be beneficial for players who have been out of the team as well, giving them an opportunity to compete at the highest level and keep themselves sharp. “The player auction for the HIL will take place from 13 to 15 October in New Delhi. Each franchise will assemble a 24-player squad, comprising at least 16 Indian players, including a mandatory four junior players, alongside eight international stars. Players will be divided into three slabs, with base prices set at ₹2, ₹5, and ₹10 lakhs each.As anticipation builds ahead of the auction, Salima expressed her hopes for her local team: “The auction is coming up soon, and there is a buzz around the camp. Since it is the first edition, I would have liked nothing more than to play for the Ranchi team. Hopefully, one of the two remaining women’s teams is based out of there; however, we will be playing half the matches in the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, so I am not too hung up on it.”Salima concluded with enthusiasm, saying, “It is going to be a great experience to play a full-fledged league nevertheless. It will be our first time playing for a completely new team, new coach, and new teammates, and I cannot wait for the Hockey India League to begin.” With the excitement building, the Hockey India League is set to reignite the passion for hockey in the country, offering a platform for players to showcase their talents on a national stage.