HIL to go to four venues, shorter league window: HI chief Tirkey

THERE was a time in the recent past when hockey within the Indian context meant Bhubaneswar.

- Swaroop Swaminathan @Bhubaneswar

These days, Hockey India (HI) are putting in place an elaborate plan to take the sport to multiple centres across different states. A sport not bound by borders, if you will.

The next 12 months will re-emphasise this feeling as the sport — in different avatars (the franchise-based Hockey India League as well as international hockey to be held in India) — will crisscross the length and breadth of the country.

Here's a sample of what's to come. The men's Asia Cup will be held in Rajgir in Bihar (the winners will qualify for the World Cup) in August. Following that, the junior World Cup will be held in two cities in Tamil Nadu (Madurai and Chennai in November and December). The season will close with the resurrected Hockey India League in four Indian cities (the just-concluded season was in Ranchi and Rourkela).