The future looks bright for the Hockey India League (HIL) as the national governing body sets its sights on significant expansion in the coming years. In a recent interview, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey shared exciting plans to grow both the women’s league and the number of match venues starting from the 2025 season.
Doubling the Women’s League
One of the key focus areas for Hockey India is to strengthen the women’s game at the highest level. Tirkey confirmed that discussions are underway to increase the number of teams in the Women’s HIL from the current four to six in the near future.
The inaugural edition of the women’s league, which concluded on January 26 with Odisha Warriors crowned as champions, featured four teams:
- Odisha Warriors
- JSW Soorma Hockey Club
- Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers
- Delhi SG Pipers
Tirkey expressed optimism about the potential inclusion of a team from Ranchi in the expanded format, stating “There is a chance. So far, that has not happened, it can happen.”
Positive Feedback and Communication
The Hockey India president noted the constant communication between the board and team owners as a positive sign for the league’s growth. The primary feedback from franchises has been a desire for better marketing of the HIL.
“More marketing is needed because this time we got less time… So, this is a very good thing for us.”
– Dilip Tirkey on feedback from HIL team owners
While the packed FIH calendar makes significant changes to the league’s start date difficult, Hockey India is open to requesting slight adjustments to accommodate more international players who missed out on the 2024-25 edition due to the holiday season.
Expanding Match Venues
In addition to increasing the number of women’s teams, Hockey India is keen on adding more match venues for the HIL from next season onwards. The 2024-25 edition was held entirely in Ranchi and Rourkela, but this is set to change.
“There have been discussions about other venues as well. There’s a possibility of having multiple venues because if it’s one venue throughout, the crowd numbers go up and down.”
– Dilip Tirkey on plans to increase HIL match venues
Promising Signs for the Future
Tirkey expressed satisfaction with the high quality of hockey on display in both the men’s and women’s competitions, noting that the fight for semifinal spots went down to the last day in a testament to the league’s competitiveness.
As Hockey India works towards its ambitious goals of expanding the Women’s HIL and adding more match venues, the future looks promising for the sport in the country. With strong communication between the board and franchises, as well as a commitment to enhancing the league’s reach and marketability, hockey fans can expect even more exciting developments in the years to come.
