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MUMBAI: Hockey India, which is creating a rival league against
the one that Neo Sports is in control of, has signed up 28
Indian national players for its nascent hockey league as it
gears for the January 2013 launch date.
Among
those who have signed contracts with HI include Shivendra
Singh, Tushar Khandker, and Yuvraj Walmiki.
“The
league will help India unearth new talent as the Indian youngsters
will be playing alongside top international stalwarts,”
HI secretary general Narendra Batra said in a statement.
Batra also informed that more than 200 Indian and international
players are expected to sign up for the league, which will
be held in partnership with International Hockey Federation.
“Till
now 28 Indian players have made themselves available for the
league. In total around 140 to 150 Indian players and 80 to
100 foreign players will sign up,” Batra added.
HI
is currently engaged in a bitter tussle with World Series
Hockey promoters Indian Hockey Federation and Nimbus Sport,
the sports marketing arm of Nimbus Communications, which owns
and operates Neo Sports and Neo Prime channels, through its
subsidiary Neo Sports Broadcast.
The
inaugural season of the Hockey India League will consist of
six franchise-based teams in six cities across India. Each
team will have 24 players including 10 foreign and 14 Indians.
“These
players will be then put up for auction in September. Since
it is a six team league, so in total 144 will represent six
franchises,” Batra added.
The
first edition of the mega-league will be played in January-February
2013 involving 33 matches.
"There
will be a live telecast of all 33 league matches on a leading
international sports channel," said FIH.
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