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You don’t animate your teammates by showing them however astonishing you are. You animate them by showing them however astonishing they are: escapade racer and motivational talker Robyn Benincasa.
For the 8 Indian captains of the Hockey India League (HIL), which begins astatine the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium present connected January 3, the league offers an perfect level to bash precisely that — bring retired the champion successful their teammates, some Indian and foreign.
The Chennai limb of the league volition reason connected January 9, aft which the enactment shifts to Ranchi (January 11 to 16) and Bhubaneswar (January 17 to 26).
For Harmanpreet Singh, skipper of India and JSW Soorma HC, expectations are understandably high. However, the 29-year-old appeared unfazed. Whether representing nine oregon country, the nonsubjective is to win, helium said.
“There is nary added pressure, to beryllium honest. On the contrary, it’s bully that 1 gets the accidental to play with juniors, and it’s bully for them too,” helium said.
The captains were unanimous successful their presumption that the HIL provides a important accidental for youngsters to showcase their endowment and propulsion for nationalist selection, with large tournaments specified arsenic the FIH Pro League, Asian Games and World Cup connected the horizon.
The Hockey India League trophy connected show up of the league commencement connected Friday, January 2, 2026. | Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
“This is simply a precise important measurement for america and HIL volition assistance place the champion players,” said Manpreet Singh, skipper of Ranchi Royals. “In the adjacent fewer months we volition person large International tournaments including the World Cup (August) and Asian Games (September). So we volition try, and tract our champion squad for the 2 large events.”
Manpreet besides underlined the value of spreading the league crossed aggregate venues. “Taking the HIL to places similar Chennai, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar volition assistance popularise the athletics and amended instrumentality engagement,” helium said.
SG Pipers features the highest fig of players — 4 — who took portion successful the Junior World Cup held successful Tamil Nadu past month. The side’s captain, Jarmanpreet Singh, said: “I anticipation they usage HIL arsenic a large level and marque the astir of it,” helium said.
