The Sports Ministry formed a seven-member committee to revive the Hockey India League after Salima Tete and Savita Punia made an emotional appeal in August. This group will look into the league's governance and financial model. The move followed a September meeting held by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya with officials.
Indian hockey captain Salima Tete and veteran goalkeeper Savita Punia had made an emotional appeal to save the Women's Hockey India League during the World Cup in August. Two months later, their plea has received a response from the Sports Ministry, which has formed a seven-member committee to work on the revival of the Hockey India League.
The committee includes representatives from the Sports Ministry, Hockey India and HIL franchises and will look into the league's governance, financial model and overall structure.
The move follows a meeting held by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya with Hockey India officials and franchise representatives in September. The stakeholders discussed the concerns surrounding the league and the uncertainty over its future.
A ministry source was quoted by news agency PTI as saying that Sports Ministry joint secretary (Khelo India) Vineel Krishna, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, secretary general Bhola Nath Singh and treasurer Sekar J Manoharan are part of the committee.
The three franchise representatives are Alok Sanghi, Mahesh Bhupathi and Divyanshu Singh. The committee has been asked to work on the governance and financial structure of the league on a priority basis and submit its report to the ministry within a fixed timeline.
The development comes at a crucial time for the HIL, with its next season facing uncertainty. The franchises have been seeking greater clarity over the league's governance and financial model, while rising costs have also raised questions over its long-term sustainability.
During the Women's World Cup in August, Indian players had publicly called for the Women's Hockey India League to be saved from discontinuation. Tete and Savita were among the players who made the emotional appeal as the women's league faced severe financial difficulties.
India finished fifth at the World Cup, their best result in the tournament since 1974.
The Hockey India League returned in 2024 after a seven-year gap and has provided Indian players with regular domestic competition while bringing several overseas players to India. Its future, however, has come under a cloud because of financial concerns and uncertainty over franchise participation.
The Sports Ministry had proposed the formation of a panel after Mandaviya's September meeting. The latest order formally brings the stakeholders together and gives the government direct representation in the process.
The committee's formation also comes amid differences within Hockey India, with president Dilip Tirkey and secretary general Bhola Nath Singh having publicly disagreed on several administrative issues in recent weeks, including the jersey controversy ahead of the World Cup.
The seven-member panel will now work towards finding a sustainable model for the Hockey India League and addressing the concerns raised by the franchises and other stakeholders.