Sports Ministry forms seven-member panel after Salima Tete and Savita Punia’s plea to save Women's Hockey India League
Two months after their emotional appeal during the World Cup in August, Indian captain Salima Tete and goalkeeper Savita Punia received a response when the Sports Ministry formed a seven-member committee to work on reviving the Women's Hockey India League.
Tete and Savita had publicly urged for the league’s continuation amid severe financial difficulties at the World Cup, where India finished fifth, their best result in the tournament since 1974. The ministry’s decision follows a September meeting convened by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya with Hockey India officials and franchise representatives to discuss concerns and uncertainty surrounding the league’s future.
A ministry source was quoted by news agency PTI as saying that the committee includes Sports Ministry joint secretary (Khelo India) Vineel Krishna, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, secretary general Bhola Nath Singh and treasurer Sekar J Manoharan. The same source named the three franchise representatives as Alok Sanghi, Mahesh Bhupathi and Divyanshu Singh.
The panel has been tasked to examine the league’s governance, financial model and overall structure. 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.
Franchises have been seeking greater clarity over governance and finances, and rising costs have raised questions about the league’s long-term sustainability. The next season of the Hockey India League faces uncertainty as stakeholders await the committee’s recommendations.
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. Despite that revival, the league’s future has been clouded by financial concerns and uncertainty over franchise participation.
Differences within Hockey India have surfaced publicly, with president Dilip Tirkey and secretary general Bhola Nath Singh disagreeing on several administrative issues in recent weeks, including the jersey controversy ahead of the World Cup.
The latest order formally brings together government, Hockey India and franchise representatives and gives the government direct representation in the HIL review process; the seven-member panel will now work towards finding a sustainable model for the Hockey India League and addressing the concerns raised by franchises and other stakeholders, and submit its report to the ministry within the prescribed timeline.