NEW DELHI: The Hockey India League (HIL) will return in 2019 in a new, revamped avatar with a more fast-paced five-a-side format replacing the traditional 11-a-side event much like Futsal in football, Press Trust of India reports.
“The HIL will be held next year (2019) in November-December in a completely new avatar. It will be a five-a-side tournament with the franchises fielding both men’s as well as women’s teams,” a Hockey India (HI) official told PTI on the sidelines of the 46h International Hockey Federation (FIH) Congress in the city on Saturday.
The HIL’s future looked uncertain after five seasons when Hockey India postponed the 2018 edition. This was after some of the franchises threatened to withdraw having incurred financial losses. It forced the HI to opt for a financially more viable format for the six franchises to keep alive its flagship event.
In another massive development, the HIL will no longer see the WAVE Group-owned Delhi Waveriders franchise participate in it. Instead, JSW Sports has reportedly expanded its sports portfolio further by buying the rights for a franchise to be based out of Bengaluru.
This will be JSW’s second sporting association with the southern city, owning its football team, Bengaluru FC as well.
“Besides the men’s and women’s events, a mixed team event will also be there. So basically, it means there will be three trophies up for grabs. These changes will help franchises save a lot of money. Out of six franchises, four have already agreed to our proposal.
“The men’s and women’s matches will be held simultaneously — one in the morning and other in the evening. A 5-a-side hockey game of just 30 minutes will not be an issue.
“Delhi has decided to quit the league. They claimed they were incurring huge losses. But JSW now has replaced Delhi.” the official added.
