Pakistan hockey team has been allowed to travel to India for the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy to be held in Chennai from August 3. Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHK) secretary Haider Hussain on Friday confirmed that they have received the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Interior.
Pakistan and India are the most successful sides of the tournament. Image- Outlook India
"The contingent will leave on Tuesday via the Wagah border and travel to Amritsar from where they have been booked on a domestic flight for Chennai," Haider said.
Haider said they were still waiting for visas for the three officials. These include Shahnaz Sheikh, the newly appointed advisor to the national team. Haider said he was confident of getting the visa by Monday. The Indian High Commission had already issued visas for the rest of the players and officials. One of the most celebrated names in Pakistan hockey and the former coach of Pakistan, Shahnaz Sheikh will be a big help for the team with his expertise.
Pakistan will play its first match of the Hockey Asian Champions Trophy against Malaysia on 3rd August. The Green Shirts will face arch-rivals India on August 9. Pakistan and India are the most successful sides of the tournament, having won the title thrice each while Korea will participate in the upcoming edition as the defending champions, who won the previous edition in 2021.
Pakistan Squad for Hockey Asian Champions Trophy:
Muhammad Umar Bhatta (c), Akmal Hussain, Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Ehtsham Aslam, Osama Bashir, Aqeel Ahmed, Arshad Liaquat, Muhammad Imad, Abdul Hanan Shahid, Zakaria Hayat, Rana Abdul Waheed Ashraf (Vice Captain), Roman, Muhammad Murtaza Yaqoob, Muhammad Shahzaib Khan, Afraz, Abdul Rahman, while the standby includes Ali Raza, Muhammad Baqir, Muhammad Nadeem Khan, Abdul Wahab, Waqar Ali, Muhammad Arsalan, and Abdul Qayyum.
Hockey India League back after 7 years: All you need to know about it
After 7 years, the Hockey India League is making a comeback with a revamped format, with better planning and strong finance, and a dedicated women’s edition.
The two-month span from March onwards is a festival beyond the yearly almanac. TheIndian Premier League blocks all the mundane schedules for seasonal cricket fans. The grandeur it has and the craze and hype it injects into the audience are unmatched. The cash-rich league managed to get a brother in 2013, in Indian Hockey—The Hockey Indian League (HIL). Their motto was the same: popularizing the sport in the country.
The long-run execution fell short of finance and ceased in 2017. After seven long years, HIL is set to make a comeback. On Friday, October 4, Hockey India will inaugurate their HIL 2.0, having Women's Hockey their first HIL!
Hockey India League 2.0
It is a resurgence, rather than a revamp of the previous edition of the Hockey Premier League, with better planning and steady finance.
The IPL started after the 2007 T-20 World Cup win. This version of HIL is nothing but a by-product of two back-to-back Olympic bronzes and a gold in the Asian Games. HI has announced that the HIL will start with initially 8 teams in the men's and 6 in the women's edition.
A total of 10 franchise owners have come on board.
For the men's event, franchises that came forward are:
Chennai- Charles Group,
Lucknow- Yadu Sports,
Punjab- JSW Sports,
WestBengal- Shrachi Sports,
Delhi- SG Sports and Entertainment (team name: Delhi SG Pipers)
Each franchise will build a 24-player (men and women each) squad. Each team will have a mix of 16 Indian players, a mandatory inclusion of four junior players, and a maximum of eight international players.
To make the pre-tournament phases more scintillating, the auction procedure has been added to it. Three categories have been induced according to the ranks of each player: Rs 2 lakh (for juniors), Rs 5 lakh, and Rs 10 lakh.
The auction will take place between Oct 13 and 15.
However, the tournament will be restricted to venues only. Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Odisha. Ranchi will host all the women's matches while the men's matches will take place in Rourkela.
Photo credit: TOI
The main reason behind limiting it to two stadiums is finance and the craze.
Finance
According to the Times of India, a huge sum of Rs 3,640 crore will be invested for Hockey Indian League purposes for the coming 10 years. HI will chip in some 112 crore each year, mainly on HL's title sponsor and media rights.
A few sources informed that HI has promised to contribute a total of Rs. 1,120 crore for the coming ten years for the swift perpetration of the revamp.
The franchises will lay out around Rs 18 crores on each of the total 14 teams (men and women), each year, which translates into Rs 252 crore for 14 teams.
Thus, for 10 years, franchises will be shelling out Rs 2,520 crore largely on players and coaching support staff’s salaries. The expenditure also includes grants for grassroot development of the sport through their hockey academies.
Thus, considering HI’s contribution of Rs 1,120 crore and franchises’ spending of Rs 2,520 crore, HIL will boast of a total investment purse of Rs 3,640 crore.
Earlier, HO: wasn't limited to just two venues. But HI president Dilip Tirkey clarified that it has been done to reduce the travel and reservation cost of home and away matches. Additionally, the venues have been chosen keeping in mind the popularity of hockey in that place.
The inaugural women's event
From 2013 to 2017, the women's version of the Hockey Premier League wasn't available. For the first time, female hockey players in India will have a dedicated platform to showcase their skills on a large scale.
The women's team has been an absolute spectacle in the Tokyo Olympics. Savita Punia was no short in fame when compared to PR Sreejesh in terms of skill. The windy Vandana Kataria, hopefully, won't be a name to those fans, but in all households.
It's not about promoting gender equality in a sport when a section of it is yet to rise its head in India. It's more about breaking taboos about women wearing skirts, like what Rani Rampal faced in her childhood. It is more about providing a well-structured hockey stick to the budding players instead of a mere bamboo stick!
Drawbacks that got corrected
The 2013–2017 version of the Hockey Indian League had its financial drawbacks. But other than that, it had clashes of schedule,
A league that could have been as big as a festival, to the fans, couldn't manage to get an uninterrupted vacant place in the FIH calendar. The Hockey Pro League came into being, which ate up whatever space was remaining.
However, this year, President Tirkey and Secretary Bhola Nath Singh have assured that such disruptions won't happen from now on. Both have revealed that the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has granted the window from December 28 to February 5 for the next 10 years.
HIL winners till 2017
2013- Ranchi Rhinos
2014- Delhi Waveriders
2015- Ranchi Rays
2016- Punjab Warriors
2017: Kalinga Lancers
Game recognizes Game
Sreejesh named Director of Hockey in Delhi franchise for upcoming HIL-PTI
Athletes investing in franchises is not new. So does hockey. Mahesh Bhupathi, the Indian tennis legend, has invested in the Delhi SG Pipers franchise
Adding further excitement, former Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who was freshly appointed as the coach for the junior hockey team, is now the mentor for the Delhi franchise.
Hockey Indian League: Opening new doors to talent
Say, for example, the Indian Premier League! It is a cash-rich league because of the unwavering fan support, definitely due to the monetization of the league.
But it has more efficacy due to its role in nurturing young talents. HIL is nothing short of that. The international players will not be just teammates but leaders and seniors whom the rookies will look up to.
This will increase the pace of the game, adding more skills and perfection to the drags and flicks.
An Indian fan probably won't be expecting some foul on the body to get a penalty corner so that some Amit Rohidas or Harmanpreet Singh convert it into a goal. A basic wish to see a ball in play before hitting the net, just as Australians do, will be fulfilled hopefully.
A Bronze costs just USD 100: Trembling Future of Pakistan Hockey Team
Pakistan Hockey Federation has rewarded Rs 8300 to their Men's Hockey Team, for sealing the bronze, after defeating Korea by 5-2. H.I. has announced 3 lakhs per player and 1.5 to the support staffs each, for the gold.
The kids that grew grey once considered Pakistan as the powerhouse of hockey. The history encrypted, however, contradicts the present scenario. The hard-earned bronze medal in the Asian Hockey Championship can somehow act as a consolation for the Pakistan Men’s Hockey team. But, the “reward” from the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) raised eyebrows- just USD 100 to each player! The amount calculates around RS 8300, and just 28,000 in Pakistan’s currency!
Pakistan and its financial struggles are nothing too new. But the once glorified sport receiving such a reward has raised various questions, including PHF’s (Pakistan Hockey Federation) approach towards the future.
Pakistan Hockey Team- A “Golden Era” Overshadowed by Present Struggles
Once tagged as the “King of Grass”, the country has three Olympic golds and four World Cup titles in its bag. The team once dominated the sport in the Asian circumference, alongside India. Pakistan Hockey team has produced legends like goalkeeper Mansoor Ahmed, who captained Pakistan to a World Cup victory in 1994. It had Brigadier Abdul Hamid, who scored Pakistan's first-ever Olympic goal in 1948, immortalized in the country’s sports history.
Pakistan defeated India by 1-0, in the finals, clinching the gold medal at the Rome Olympics.
However, the tables trembled in the 1980s. Artificial watered turfs started replacing the grass courts. The “King of Grass” struggled to adapt to the newly given conditions and the dynamics of the game. Currently, a struggling Pakistan Hockey Team has hit rock bottom.
They touched the 30th block in the FIH standing- their lowest-ever rank. However, the ACT Bronze medal has pushed them five blocks upward- to the 15th rank. The road to regaining the past glory seems steep, but is it impossible? Question prevails!
Financial Woes and Federation Mismanagement
At the heart of Pakistan's hockey decline is financial instability. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has faced multiple allegations that includes mismanagement and the misuse of government funds. Moreover, complaints from different corners do come, regarding involvement of senior “legends” of Pakistan Hockey Team. Them, as complained, often resisted to the idea of employing foreign coaches. However, when seniors got the responsibility, they failed miserably too, as coaches.
Speaking of foreign coaches, they need a longer spell to get adapted to the situations. They need ample time to get under the nerves and train the player- to detect the pros and cons and work on them. But the financial condition of PHF has prevented the longevity of such coaching tenures.
Situations turned this worse that board started hiring event- based coaches. Notably, former coach Roelant Oltmans, who accompanied the Pakistan Hockey team to Poland for the Nation’s Cup, had to leave midway through his tenure due to unpaid fees.
Criticisms came on the way, with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) being apathetic to the Pakistan Hockey Federation. The Imran Khan tenure has seen PSB providing the lowest grants. A lot of government federations depends solely on PSB grants for their curriculum. PSB, however, published a report where it said that an amount of 1000 million rupees has been allotted for different federations including PHF.
The 2019/2020 Fiscal year, PSB distributed only 25 million rupees. Its aim was to set up training camps and to support participation in international and national events. The 2020/21 fiscal year had its amount increased to 42 million rupees. The PSB has notably raised its funding over the past two fiscal years. That includes 2023/24, allocating a total expenditure of around 920 million rupees to federations.
PSB, over the past five years, has given PHF only 103 million rupees in grants. On the contrary, the athletics federation received over 100 million rupees, for the sake of Arshad Nadeem's Olympic preparations. The disparity is glaring, especially considering hockey's status as Pakistan's national sport.
Arshad Nadeem receives Pakistan's first Gold medal in Paris Olympics, with a record throw of 92.97m.
A New Coach, Old Problems
Pakistan’s other major problem is exposure. The financial drawbacks have limited the international tours for the team. The last time Pakistan Men’s Hockey Team had a tour, was for the Nations Cup at Netherlands and Poland. It was a qualification for the pro league. Pakistan there finished fourth, behind New Zealand, France, South Africa.
With Oltman’s departure, Tahir Zaman, stepped in as head coach just before the Asian Champions Trophy. He, with over 20 years of coaching experience, has acknowledged the deep-rooted challenges, is cautiously optimistic.
He aims to push for a Pakistan Hockey League to nurture young talent and provide players with much-needed exposure. But even Zaman admits that reviving Pakistan hockey will be a long process.
The Asian Championship Trophy bronze somehow looks like a slight consolation to the overall struggling team. Even though it offered a glimmer of hope, the announcement of a meagre USD 100 reward for each player has sparked widespread outrage. Placing it by the side of Hockey India awarded ₹3 lakh (around USD 3,600) to each of its players, Pakistan Hockey team looks awfully dull. and this absolutely not a welcoming sign for any hockey enthusiast around the world.
The financial challenges facing Pakistan's hockey players are not only demoralizing but are also driving them to desperate measures. Earlier this year, In August, three players—Murtaza Yakoob, Ihtesham Aslam, and Abdur Rahman—along with physiotherapist Waqas, escaped from a training camp in Poland during the Nations Cup.
It was the pre-Asian Champions trophy training cup, when they were summoned, they informed of them not being available due to personal issues. However, later it became clear that they fled away seeking asylum in Europe. PHF subsequently banned them for life.
PHF secretary general Rana Mujahid feared that this escape may create complications in getting visa for any tour in Europe. With the present complications in the financial conditions, this move wasn't apt for the team, according to Rana.
However, many doubts this move by the players and the physio was a result of delays in PHF doing delays in travel and other allowances.
When Mujahid blames the players, the critiques blamed the financial coundidion of the boards for the athletes to choose this desperation.
The Future Calls: Will Hockey Survive?
The present day situation of the Pakistan Hockey team has divided the fans in two groups. One believes the team has been burried. However, the other one is optimistic, byt to a certain level, believing this phase to be the "ventilator" ohase.
The only head to believe Pakistan Hockey team as the Phoenix shortly is its present coach, Tahir Zaman, the 55-year-old with almost 20 years of experience, who still believes his boys can regain the glory. He has his plan already set in his mind, where nourishing the domestic hockey comes first.
Asian Champions Trophy is not a so called important trophy in the Hockey arena. But a bronze medal in this struggling situation, should be enough to draw attention for the betterement. But again, the idiocy PSB showed, by giving the miminimal value to the medal, questions the future of the Hockey.
Is it actually having a bright future, with the "new generation?" Will the Pakistani kids choose emotion and past glories over wages while opting for national hockey? The answer is unknown for an eternity!
Hockey India announces 16-member Indian men's hockey team for Paris Olympics 2024
Indian men's hockey team are placed in a challenging group in Paris Olympics, which includes teams like defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland.
Indian men's hockey team are placed in a challenging group in Paris, which includes teams like defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Ireland.
Jugraj Singh, Mohammed Raheel, and Krishan Pathak has not been included in the 16-member team. While the team will have five debutants: Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Raj Kumar Pal, Abhishek, and Sukhjeet Singh. The team will be led by Harmanpreet Singh with midfielder Hardik Singh will serve as his deputy.
PR Sreejesh was selected as the lone goalkeeper while Krishan Pathak was named as the alternate athlete.
The defence line includes Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sumit, and Sanjay, while the midfield will see the contributions of Raj Kumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad. The forward line boasts formidable players such as Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, and Gurjant Singh.
Apart from Pathak, midfielder Nilakanta Sharma, and defender Jugraj Singh have been named as alternate athletes.
India has huge legacy of eight gold medals
This time in the Paris Olympics, India has a chance to end the gold medal drought of the last four decades. The Indian hockey team has a vast legacy of eight gold medals in the Olympics. Expectations from the men's team have increased manifold after winning the historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Now fans not only expect the Indian team to win another medal but also want it to be gold or silver.
Before Paris, India went to play a series in Australia where they lost 5-0, which is not a good result and not a good preparation.
Hockey India announces 40-member core probable for 63-day Junior Men’s National Coaching Camp
The camp is being held after the Indian junior men's team's European tour, where they played five matches against Belgium, Germany, and Netherlands club team Bredase Hockey Vereniging Push from May 20 to May 29.
Hockey India on Friday announced the core probable group of 40 players for the upcoming Junior Men's National Coaching Camp, starting from June 16 at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Bengaluru.
Hockey India organized the camp after India's European tour
The camp is being held after the Indian junior men's team's European tour, where they played five matches against Belgium, Germany, and Netherlands club team Bredase Hockey Vereniging Push from May 20 to May 29.
India won against Belgium in European tour
During the tour, the Indian Hockey Team won 2–2 (4–2 SO) against Belgium in their first match but lost 2–3 in the second match against the same opponent. They suffered a 5–4 defeat against Bredase Hockey Vereniging. Against Germany, India lost 2–3 in the first game, but won 1–1 (3–1 SO) in the return match, which was also the final game of the tour.
Janardhana CB will lead the camp
The upcoming camp, led by coach Janardhana CB and under the supervision of Herman Kruis, High Performance Director, Hockey India, will run for 63 days, concluding on August 18.
“We have a talented group of players and the intensive training sessions will help them reach their full potential. Our goal is to develop a cohesive and formidable team ready to take on any challenge.” Janardhana said.
Hockey India League set to make comeback after 8 years; Hockey India begins registration
Hockey India has been given the all-clear to re-launch the Hockey India League featuring both men and women from 28 December to 1 February. The league will be played in a home-and-away format.
Hockey India League (HIL) will reportedly make a comeback after eight years and is pencilled in for a December start. The Hockey India League 2024-2025 edition will feature Men’s and Women’s Teams and hockey players from across the nation are invited to register themselves on or before 30th June 2024.
Hockey India has been given the all-clear to re-launch the Hockey India League featuring both men and women from 28 December to 1 February. The league will be played in a home-and-away format.
HIL was played between 2013 and 2017 before
HIL, similar to other franchise-based competitions in the country, was played between 2013 and 2017 before folding. The upcoming HIL will reportedly have eight men’s teams and six women’s teams. Each team will have separate owners. The player auction will take place after the Paris Olympics 2024 in July-August.
The league, then featuring only men’s teams, was halted in 2017 due to financial issues.
Hockey India invited players from top 15 hockey-playing nations
This is the first time in the history of the sport that an exclusive women’s Hockey India League will be hosted simultaneously.
Additionally, Hockey India has also invited players from the top 15 hockey-playing nations to register their players and support staff for the upcoming season which will be held in the window sanctioned by FIH; the last week of December 2024 to the first week of February 2025.
'This step signifies that we are close to restarting the HIL'
Commenting on the occasion Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey said, “We are elated to open the player registration for the Hockey India League 2024-2025 edition. This step signifies that we are close to restarting the HIL, a league that was loved by hockey players and fans across the world. We are confident that budding Indian hockey players will snatch at the opportunity to play with and against some of the best players in the world.”
'The league will help improve the standard of young players'
Hockey India Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh also weighed in saying, “The HIL played a pivotal role in the resurgence of the Indian Hockey Teams and it is a matter of great joy and pride that we are on the verge of restarting it. The league will help improve the standard of young players and propagate a culture of hockey across the nation. We look forward to receiving heaps of applications from India and abroad.”
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