PR Sreejesh Excited for Hockey India League 2024-25
Indian hockey legend PR Sreejesh is thrilled about the upcoming Hockey India League (HIL), seeing it as a great opportunity for junior players to shine and potentially join the national senior team. Sreejesh, now Director and Assistant Coach of Delhi SG Pipers, expressed his excitement during the HIL Auction for the eight men’s franchises.
Opportunities for Young Players
Sreejesh emphasized the importance of the league for young players, stating, “It is a great chance for players to come up, perform and showcase their talent.” He noted that with major slots filled, the focus is now on junior and domestic players, especially as teams prepare for the World Cup next year.
Successful Auction Process
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey praised the auction process, highlighting the competitive bids for players like Harmanpreet Singh, who was acquired for Rs 78 lakh. Sardar Singh, coach of Soorma Hockey Club, also emphasized the importance of skillful Indian players in the league.
Key Auction Highlights
The HIL Player Auction 2024/25 saw significant bids for both Indian and overseas players. Belgium’s Victor Wegnez became the costliest overseas buy at Rs 40 lakh. Other notable purchases included Dutch Captain Thierry Brinkman and Belgium’s Arthur Van Doren. Indian players like Moriangthem Rabichandra and Maninder Singh also fetched high bids.
Upcoming League Details
The revamped HIL 2024-25 will feature 8 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams, marking the first standalone women’s league in India. The league will start on December 28, with matches in Ranchi and Rourkela, and conclude with the women’s final on January 26, 2025, and the men’s final on February 1, 2025.
Doubts Revealed
PR Sreejesh -: PR Sreejesh is a famous Indian hockey player known for his skills as a goalkeeper. He has played for the Indian national team and is considered a legend in the sport.
Hockey India League -: The Hockey India League (HIL) is a professional field hockey league in India. It provides a platform for players to compete at a high level and showcase their talent.
HIL Auction -: The HIL Auction is an event where teams bid to buy players for their squads. It is similar to the IPL auction in cricket, where players are bought for large sums of money.
Harmanpreet Singh -: Harmanpreet Singh is an Indian field hockey player known for his excellent skills, especially in penalty corners. He was the top buy in the HIL Auction, meaning he was purchased for the highest price.
Rs 78 lakh -: Rs 78 lakh is a large amount of money, equal to 7.8 million rupees. It shows how valuable Harmanpreet Singh is considered in the league.
Ranchi and Rourkela -: Ranchi and Rourkela are cities in India. Ranchi is the capital of Jharkhand, and Rourkela is a city in Odisha. They will host the Hockey India League matches.
