Hockey India awaits HIL window from FIH

Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh (left) and International Hockey Federation president Tayyab Ikram at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai, yesterday. Pic/Ashwin Ferro

Hockey India (HI) and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) are unsure about the window for the much-anticipated re-launch of the franchise-based Hockey India League which was last played in 2017. The tournament was suspended due to financial issues.

On Wednesday, at a joint press conference between representatives from both bodies at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here, HI secretary general Bhola Nath Singh and FIH president Tayyab Ikram actually differed with each other briefly before the latter tried to diffuse the situation. "We have not yet received a clear request [from Hockey India] for a window [for the Hockey India League]. We have had many informal discussions on the subject," Ikram said.

Full plan ready

With raised eyebrows, HI's Bhola Natha Singh smiled and insisted that they have indeed discussed the HIL in detail with the FIH and even have their approval for the same. "I have a full plan for the HIL ready with me with the eight teams [franchises] and all details. We have spoken to FIH quite a few times and they have assured us their full support for this tournament," said Bhola Nath.

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‘Dates yet to finalised'

Immediately, Ikram replied with a slight change in stance. "Yes, we have discussed the HIL with Hockey India, but we are still to finalise the date [window]," he said. It's a busy time for international hockey with the Asian Games (September 23 to October 8) coming up in Hangzhou, China, almost immediately after the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy (ACT), followed by the FIH Pro League (December 6 to June 30, 2024) and the all-important Paris Olympics (July 26 to August 11, 2024).

Last month, HI president

Dilip Tirkey announced that they are looking at a window for the HIL, "sometime in December next year or January 2025, but we are awaiting a window from FIH." This wait for a window is obviously agonising for HI, who have already charted out tournament details like teams, sponsors and even venues, but cannot announce the same. In fact, at the start of the ACT, when Bhola Nath was asked at a previous conference here about the HIL, he bluntly refused to talk about it.