Hockey India League: Soormas sweat it out at practice session
Ahead of their opening Hockey India League (HIL) campaign, a training camp of JSW Soorma Hockey Club is underway at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Sector 3, in Panchkula.
The side will play their first home game against Tamil Nadu Dragons on December 29, followed by matches against Uttar Pradesh Rudras on January 2, Vendata Kalinga Lancers on January 5, Delhi SG Pipers on January 6, Hyderabad Toofans on January 11, Team Gonasika on January 14, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers on January 17 and other league games at Birsa Munda Stadium, Rourkela.
The HIL is scheduled to be held from December 28 to February 1, featuring eight men and six women teams. Making a return after seven years, this will be the sixth edition of the revamped HIL. Both the men and women competitions will run simultaneously during the window exclusively reserved for the HIL by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), ensuring the availability of the top foreign players.
The men’s league will feature a team each from Chennai, Lucknow, Punjab, Kolkata, Delhi, Odisha, Hyderabad and Ranchi. The women’s tournament will have sides from Haryana, West Bengal, Delhi and Odisha.
Harmanpreet in action
Indian hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh — who is a double Olympian bronze medallist — along with another Olympian Gurjant Singh, 2016 Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup winning captain Harjeet Singh and others are sweating it out to work on team combination. Former international Sardar Singh is mentoring the team, which is likely to leave for the tournament venue before December 25.
