Dutchman Thierry Brinkman is excited to play with Indian players in HIL

One of the finest hockey players in the world, Thierry Brinkman of the Netherlands is excited to play alongside the Indian players in the upcoming Hockey India League.

The Dutchman is set to don the colours of Kalinga Lancers, the only original franchise from the previous HIL editions.

Reflecting on his upcoming stint, Brinkman said, “I am looking forward to playing in Rourkela. The stadium there is the most beautiful hockey stadium in the world. We played some great World Cup games there in 2023. Good memories.”

Brinkman, who is a key player for the Dutch national team and was instrumental in their Gold medal triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is excited to engage with the Indian hockey community.

“For this year’s HIL, I’m looking forward to playing for the Indian hockey fans. Being teammates with Indian players would be special,” he added.

The auction system of HIL also caught Brinkman’s attention.

“I think the whole system with the auction is unique. There was a lot of interest from the press because of the concept where teams can ‘buy’ players. It’s nice that the HIL is back after seven years,” Brinkman remarked.

As a professional player, Brinkman noted that hockey, combined with sponsorships, forms his primary source of income, making competitions like HIL an essential part of his career.

“The Hockey India League brings an incredible opportunity for players like me to not only perform on a global stage but also to interact with fans and teammates from across the world. Moreover, hockey, combined with sponsorships, is currently my primary source of income, so, HIL is also a big financial boost for me in that sense,” he stated.