"Hockey India League will provide an excellent opportunity for junior players," says PR Sreejesh.

New Delhi (India), October 15: Indian hockey goalkeeping legend PR Sreejesh expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming Hockey India League (HIL), stating that it would provide an excellent platform for junior players aiming to break into the national senior team.

Speaking on the second day of the HIL auction for the eight men's franchises, Sreejesh, who serves as the Director and Assistant Coach of Delhi SG Pipers, shared his excitement about the competition. "I am thrilled for the competition. Now I’m on the other side, focusing on the players. This is a great opportunity for them to shine and display their talent. With many top slots already taken in the auction, it opens doors for junior and domestic players. All teams will be looking to select juniors as they prepare for the World Cup next year. This is the right platform for them, making it easier for coaches and selectors to assess their skills, how they handle pressure, and their behavior both on and off the field," he stated.

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey also remarked on the successful auction process, noting that it had been going well. "The first day was fantastic. Harmanpreet was sold for Rs 78 lakh, and there was significant competition for many players. Today, numerous junior players, including some from U21, received impressive bids. This shows we are developing our young talent effectively," Tirkey said.

Sardar Singh, the celebrated Indian hockey player and current coach of the Soorma Hockey Club men's team, mentioned that their team is well-balanced and focused on giving more opportunities to younger players. "Having skilled Indian players is crucial, as they will outnumber the overseas players on the field. Over the last eight to seven years, our players have reached a level comparable to foreign players," he added.

The Hockey India League Player Auction 2024/25 for the men's competition took place successfully in New Delhi on Sunday and Monday. All eight men's franchises assembled strong squads for the upcoming season, which is set to occur in Rourkela later this year.

On Day 2 of the auction, foreign players garnered substantial bids, with Belgium's Victor Wegnez being the most expensive buy at Rs 40 lakh for Soorma Hockey Club. Other notable international acquisitions included Dutch Captain Thierry Brinkman (Rs 38 lakh) and Belgium's Arthur Van Doren (Rs 32 lakh), both sold to Kalinga Lancers. Additionally, Indian players Moriangthem Rabichandra (Rs 32 lakh to Kalinga Lancers) and Maninder Singh (Rs 26 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club) were notable buys on Day 2.

Young players with a base price of Rs 2 lakh also made impressive sales, with Angad Bir Singh going to Kalinga Lancers for Rs 26 lakh and Rajinder to Hyderabad Toofans for Rs 23 lakh.

On the opening day, all eight franchises made significant investments to secure core players from the Indian Men's Hockey team. Harmanpreet Singh emerged as the most expensive player of the auction at Rs 78 lakh, followed by Abhishek at Rs 72 lakh for Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers and Hardik Singh at Rs 70 lakh for UP Rudras.

Germany's Gonzalo Peillat was the priciest overseas player, purchased for Rs 68 lakh, while the Netherlands' Jip Janssen was acquired for Rs 54 lakh by Tamil Nadu Dragons.

The Hockey India League (HIL) 2024-25 Women's Auction will occur on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone in the sport and showcasing the growth of women's hockey.

The revamped HIL 2024-25 will feature eight men's teams and six women's teams, representing the country's first standalone women's league running concurrently with the men's competition. In the previous edition in 2017, Kalinga Lancers clinched the championship title by defeating Dabang Mumbai.

The league is scheduled to commence on December 28, with matches held at two venues: Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, Odisha. The women's league will conclude on January 26, 2025, in Ranchi, while the men's final is set for February 1, 2025, in Rourkela.