Aiming to boost the sports ecosystem in Lucknow, a new hockey league will be initiated on the lines of Indian Premier League(IPL). As per reports, the officials were inspired to make this move after witnessing the commendable performance of Indian hockey players at the Tokyo Olympics, this year. The Lucknow Hockey League will not only provide a better platform for local players but also ensure enhanced financial opportunities for them.
8 teams to take part in the league
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In a bid to encourage and support local budding athletes, only the players associated with various clubs of Lucknow will be allowed to participate in the upcoming league. The secretary of the Hockey League, Avinash Srivastava stated that the talented players of the city will be benefitted in a number of ways. Reportedly, the league will have eight teams, backed up by eight franchises. Just like IPL, each player will participate in the auction and go with the team that bids the highest.
The glorious past of Hockey in the City of Nawabs
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The grounds and stadiums of Lucknow have served as a cradle for extraordinary hockey players in the past. Famous personalities like Sujeet Kumar, R. P. Singh, Rajneesh Mishra, Syed Ali, Shakeel and Ravindra Pal Singh were all based in Lucknow. Applauding the efforts of the authorities, former international hockey player Rajneesh Mishra said that each city should conduct leagues like this to promote the local club-level players.
Hope for a brighter future revived!
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Unlike cricket, where club-level players also earn a decent income, those involved in sports like hockey still face a dilemma regarding their career choice. Thereby, a lot of hockey players give up on their dreams in the initial years owing to financial pressures. This league is an effort, undertaken to capitalise on the recent popularity of this game and help the amateur athletes. Further, the officials have revived the hope for a brighter future for this game, with this initiative.
