'Big shock for all of us': Savita Punia urges Hockey India to keep league alive as Women’s HIL faces uncertain future

KOLKATA: Despite the good showing by the Indian women’s hockey team at the ongoing World Cup, the players were in for a rude shock when they learnt about the concerns surrounding the next edition of the Women’s Hockey India League.Reacting to the news, former India captain and one of the highest-capped player, Savita Punia, told TOI on Wednesday, “Ever since we came to know that teams in the women’s league are considering pulling out, it has definitely been a big shock for all of us. We had been looking forward to the league because we felt it would give us good exposure, especially our young players.”Of the four teams that competed last year, two are considering pulling out while another remains undecided. SG Pipers won the tournament last year, while Shrachi Bengal Tigers clinched the title the year before.“Financially, the league definitely helps, but more importantly, it gives you a platform to train and share your experiences with some of the best players in the world,” added Savita. “There are so many players who dream of doing something for India in hockey, and HIL is one of the best platforms to help them achieve that.”According to one franchise owner, whose team incurred losses running into crores over the two seasons, the biggest reason for considering a pullout was Hockey India’s failure to raise funds as promised.“The tournament isn’t financially viable and that is the only reason for deciding to pull out,” said the owner, who has teams in both the men’s and women’s tournaments.Another franchise official, however, played down those concerns, pointing out that with franchise fees being scrapped from the next edition onwards, and each owner required to pay only Rs 1 crore each for a men’s and women’s team, two teams can now be run at a minimum cost of around Rs 12.5 crore.“Considering that this is only a two-year-old tournament, this should not be a major concern,” the franchise official said.It is understood that Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, who did not travel to the World Cup unlike several other HI officials, is making efforts to ensure that the tournament goes ahead as planned. He also held meetings with various stakeholders to address the concerns surrounding the league.There had also been discussions about appointing a dedicated sponsorship professional for the HIL, effectively in the role of a director, to drive revenue and commercial partnerships. However, the proposal is understood to have run into differences over remuneration and the reporting structure.While the franchises and Hockey India continue to work through the financial and structural concerns, the players are hoping that a solution is found soon, given the league’s importance to the growth of women’s hockey in the country.“The Indian women’s team is working very hard to take Indian hockey forward, and the HIL is a very big supporter of that journey. So, on behalf of all of us and the women’s team, I would request that the HIL should continue,” Savita further added.With the next edition still facing uncertainty, the coming weeks could prove crucial for the future of the women’s HIL and the opportunities it provides to India’s emerging players.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.