'We want to continue the legacy of UP in Hockey,' says Amit Kothari, UP Rudras

The state of Uttar Pradesh holds an unmatchable legacy in Indian Hockey, as it is home to some of the greatest players to grace the Indian jersey and the hockey turf.

From the legendary Major Dhyan Chand to stylish striker Mohammed Shahid, the state has produced a galaxy of stars in the glorious history of Indian hockey.

With the Hockey India League returning after a wait of seven years, the state is getting ready to support the new team, UP Rudras.

Owned by Yadu Sports, the sports arm of JK Cements, UP Rudras will be one of the eight teams featuring in the men's HIL starting on 28th December.

With the Indian vice-captain Hardik Singh as their skipper and local boys Raj Kumar Pal, Sharda Nand Tiwari, and Lalit Upadhyay forming the core, the team looks to put out a brilliant show for their fans.

In an exclusive conversation with The Bridge, Amit Kothari, UP Rudras franchise representative, said, "It's truly exciting that the league is returning after such a long wait. I am extremely grateful to Hockey India for putting out such a formidable tournament for all the hockey fans. It is a league with legacy and it is coming in a new avatar."

Yadu Sports is a new entrant to the ever-growing franchise league space and already owns teams in the state's local sports leagues.

When asked about the motivation behind getting a team from UP, Amit explained, "UP is the home of JK Cement. Kanpur is our home city. It's the legacy of the company."

"Also, it has been home to many greats including the legendary Major Dhyan Chand. It made complete sense for us to take the Lucknow franchise to continue the legacy of the state and our legacy," he added further.

HIL Auction and setting up the team

As an organization, this was the first time UP Rudras took part in an international league when they sat in the Hockey India League auctions in October 2024.

"It was a first for us as the team and it was a rollercoaster experience at the event. Thanks to Cedric D'Souza (Technical Director) and Paul Van Ass (Head coach) and Thomas, we walked into that room with significant work," quipped Amit.

"We were very clear on the skill sets and combinations we needed in that team. And I believe today our team is a very healthy balance of sort of experienced players from India and overseas. Some of our senior players have already played in HIL before and for some, it will be their first time experience," said Amit explaining the squad construction of UP Rudras.

However, Auction is the very first step of any tournament. The squad building along with getting a solid support staff can be an extensive process.

"We have a few franchises in the regional leagues like Gwalior Cheetahs (MP Cricket League) and Kashi Rudras (UP T20 League). HIL provided us with the perfect opportunity to enter the national landscape. So, it was a well-thought-out move for us from the start, and with our experience at the local level, it helped set up UP Rudras," Amit elaborated.

Catering to fans and grassroots

Uttar Pradesh is a state known for having passionate fans and hockey is one of the most prevalent games in the state, the franchise is expected to receive huge support from the fans.

"We already have our fans cheering for us. Recently, we had an event unveiling the jersey with the captain Hardik and local boys Lalit and Sharda. It was such a wonderful reception for the players. Honestly, we were floored by the response from the fans," Amit smiled.

"The heart of any sport and league is the fans and they decide how legendary the league can be. We want to bring the younger fanbase to hockey. It was one of the important factors behind us entering the hockey space," Amit said.

The franchise plans to engage with its fans on social media and also bring the fans of UP living outside the state together.

"We know that social media plays a significant role in that compared to where we were seven years ago. And part of the overall fan engagement strategy has been to leverage it. We want to engage with them in the stadium and also when they are watching from their homes," said Amit.

UP already has many players in the Indian national hockey setup across the age groups and with HIL coming up, Amit believes that a lot of players from the grassroots will also rise.

"From the perspective of Yadu Sports, we have to develop a younger fan base and also develop the younger talent. We as franchise owners will do our part in terms of ensuring that talent, both senior and junior talent develops in the state," explained Amit.

"A big factor in entering hockey has been contributing to the local and grassroots level. HIL creates that perfect opportunity where the youngsters come and learn from the seniors and international players," said Amit.

While the focus at the moment is on providing every resource to the team and delivering a brilliant performance in the HIL, UP Rudras has plans to get involved in the development of young players who can create a supply line for the upcoming HIL seasons.

The franchise plans to leverage the existing infrastructure in the state to develop the grassroots.

Expectations from the UP Rudras team

UP Rudras will be up against seven formidable teams in the first season of the Hockey India League and will open their season against Kalinga Lancers on 30th December.

Talking about the expectations from the squad, Amit said," This is the first season these players will be together. So from a team perspective, it is important to set the expectations. Our first expectation is that we come together as a team and give our everything on the hockey turf.

"Our second expectation is that we represent the state we are coming from and make it proud. Coming from a state that had legendary players in the past, it will be important for the players to know what they are representing. We want our players to enjoy their time in the middle," quipped Amit.

With the leadership of Hardik Singh, direction of Cedric D'Souze and coaching of Paul Van Ass, the UP Rudras will look to dominate the first season of returning Hockey India League.

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/