Hockey India League To Expand Venue List To Three Cities, Dilip Tirkey Confirms

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey announced that the upcoming season of the Hockey India League will be held across three venues, instead of two, in January 2026, on Sunday.

Tirkey added that the event will continue to be an eight-team competition; however, the women’s tournament could see six teams fighting it out, instead of the current four.

He also revealed that Team Gonasika in the men’s section and 2025 women champions Odisha Warriors, have withdrawn from the event due to personal reasons after participation in just one season.

“HIL will happen both in men and women category," he said.

“In men mostly same teams will be there apart from Gonasika which withdrew because of personal reasons and we will name their replacement soon," the HI Chief added.

“There will no less than four teams in women and eight in the men’s competition. We were thinking of increasing women team to six, talks are on.

“This time there will be three venues in three different cities — 2 existing cities will remain and one will be added. From Odisha it will be a toss between Rourkela and Bhubaneswar."

The HI chief mentioned plans to expand HIL to northern India in the future. Tirkey also announced that all dues of players from the last HIL have been settled. Additionally, he stated that a mini auction for next year’s HIL is scheduled for either late September or the first week of October.

“A proposal came from Punjab and we also wanted to take HIL to North but after analysing we felt places like Chandigarh and Mohali will encounter fog problem in January. In future we will see."

“The Odisha Warriors were late in paying the players, so we paid on behalf of them after discussing with them. Odisha Warriors were champions among women, so their prize money was with us and we paid from there after taking their approval."

“Odisha Warriors players will go for auction. Gonasika players will also go for auction. Some franchises have retained some players and released some. The released ones will go into auction," Tirkey said.

Tirkey also touched up on India’s prospects at the upcoming Hockey World Cup and the Asian Games, which are slated to take place within a month of each other.

“World Cup is still one year away and it is an important tournament for us. It is difficult to say who all players will still be there but we will try to send the best team," Tirkey said.

“We have told our chief coach and selectors that senior players need to keep themselves fit. We have noticed that some promising junior players are coming up, we have seen that in last HIL. So it is not sure only seniors will go, the best will," he continued.

“Asian Games is three weeks after World Cup, and we will try to field a balanced team in both the tournaments," the HI boss concluded.

(With Inputs From PTI)