HIL ticking all boxes of three growth-pillars: Divyanshu Singh

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, when the Indian Men’s Hockey team climbed the podium and displayed its bronze medal, euphoria gripped the nation. It became clear that the bronze at the Tokyo games was no anomaly.

Thereafter, in September, the team went on to win the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 in Hulunbuir, China whilst employing a new set of players. The bench was tested, and yet the outcome was positive.

And when the Hockey India League (HIL) auctions took place at New Delhi a month later in October, thousands tuned into watch a preview show that The Bridge aired. Such was the anticipation.  

The league is now back after a seven-year hiatus and there’s just one question on most people’s minds – is the HIL going to become the next IPL?

Strong hockey foundations

“Looking at the IPL as a benchmark is great but I think a lot of things happen on autopilot for cricket which will not happen for other sport,” says Divyanshu Singh, COO of JSW Sports.

Speaking to this writer on the sidelines of the ongoing HIL where the Soorma Hockey Club, a JSW Sports-owned franchise, has presence in both the men’s and the women’s leagues, Singh feels that those involved in the sport ‘will have to put in 2x more effort towards ensuring that the sport becomes popular.’

The reason for that, according to Singh, is a decline that the country experienced when the sport underwent a transition.

“Indian hockey faced a decline when the transition happened from grass to the turf and it taken us 25-30 years to bridge that gap.”

But now the sport is back where it belongs, and he credits Hockey India for orchestrating the turn around.

“When you look at the top-10 nations in global hockey we will be the only Asian country surrounded by the top-10 nations in GDP per capita. So that’s a phenomenal achievement for India to be there,” he observes.

Singh, therefore, believes that the potential for the sport in the country is immense.

“It (hockey) has wider appeal because we have a very strong foundation for hockey,” he says.

But what will it take to popularize the league and make it sustainable in the long run?

Three-pillars of growth

Singh doesn’t mince words when identifying the pillars of success and growth for the league.

“One, you need to have the best talent,” he begins.

While a few overseas players might have dropped out, he is not worried but instead is convinced about the capabilities of those playing in the league at the moment, more specifically, the attributes of the Indian players.

“Two, India has to be doing well in that sport.”

Much like how the popularity of T20 cricket skyrocketed in the country on the back of India’s 2007 victory in South Africa and then the following year, the inaugural IPL rode that wave, the climate is appropriate for a spurt in hockey’s growth right now.

“Since India is doing well in Hockey, it has helped to raise the popularity of the players, profile of the sport,” believes Singh.

“Three, it (the sport) has to be financially viable for all the stakeholders.”

With some of the biggest Indian corporations having come on board to revive the league and virtually all of them having expressed interest in fueling the growth of hockey, Singh believes that the ‘league is ticking all the boxes.’

Note:

- The Men’s matches of the HIL will take place between the 28th of December 2024 and the 1st of February 2025 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela.

- The Women’s matches of the HIL will be played between the 12th of January and the 26th of January 2025 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium, Ranchi

- Hockey India League 2024-25: Full schedule, fixtures, venues

- Free passes may be booked on https://ticketgenie.in/