New Delhi. For the first time in the Hockey India League, more than 350 players from all over the world will be auctioned for the women’s league here on Tuesday. After seven years, the Hockey India League is returning in a new format in which there will be a separate women’s league for the first time. Bidding will be done on more than 250 domestic and more than 70 foreign players in the historic auction.
India’s top women players include experienced goalkeeper Savita, national captain Salima Tete, drag-flicker Deepika, experienced Vandana Kataria and forward Lalremsiami. Apart from these, former players like Yogita Bali, Lilima Minz and Namita Toppa have also registered their names. Prominent among the international players are Delfina Merino (Argentina), Charlotte Stoppenhorst (Germany), Maria Granato (Argentina), Rachael Lynch (Australia) and Nike Lorenz (Germany).
There will be four teams in the first season of HIL Women’s League while two more teams will be added in the second season. These teams are Surma Hockey Club, Bengal Tigers, Delhi SG Pipers and Odisha Warriors. In the second season, there will be a team of Hyderabad Hurricanes and BC Jindal Group.
Each team will have 24 players, including 16 Indians (four juniors are mandatory) and eight foreign players. Teams have been given a limit of Rs 2 crore in the auction while players have been given three base prices of Rs 10 lakh, Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said, “The Hockey India Women’s League is a celebration of the growth of women’s hockey in India. We are delighted to host the Women’s League auction for the first time. We are happy that our domestic players will get a chance to play with the best international players. HIL 2024 for Indian Hockey. “It will prove to be a milestone of 25 years.”