Punjab Hockey League Launches with Record Prize Pool for Junior Players
Introduction to the Punjab Hockey League
Mohali (Punjab) [India] - On July 23, Roundglass Hockey Academy (RGHA) and Hockey Punjab unveiled the second edition of the Punjab Hockey League (PHL) aimed at junior players, boasting a remarkable prize pool of INR 30 Lakhs, the highest ever for a junior hockey tournament in India, as announced by Roundglass Sports.
Objectives of the League
This league, organized in partnership with Hockey Punjab, seeks to enhance match exposure for grassroots players while significantly contributing to their personal and professional growth.
League Structure and Schedule
Eight academy teams from various regions will compete in the league, which will unfold in two phases. The inaugural season featured six teams from Punjab, competing in a home-and-away format.
The first phase is set to occur from August 31 to September 9 at the Mohali International Hockey Stadium. The concluding phase, including the finals, will be hosted at the Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar from September 15 to 27, with the championship match scheduled for September 27.
Prize Distribution and Team Composition
Prize money will be allocated to all eight teams based on their final standings. Each team can register up to 20 players, which includes three from the Under-21 category (born on or after January 1, 2005) and 17 from the Under-19 category (born on or after January 1, 2007).
Commitment to Grassroots Hockey
This initiative by Roundglass and Hockey Punjab underscores their dedication to advancing grassroots hockey and fostering the next generation of talent in India.
Gurpreet Sunny Singh, Founder of Roundglass, expressed, “Our mission is to reignite India’s enthusiasm for field hockey. Organizing the Punjab Hockey League for juniors on such a grand scale brings us closer to this goal. It represents a significant step in promoting hockey at the grassroots level and enhancing the skills of young players through competitive exposure.”
Nitin Kohli, President of Hockey Punjab, added, “The Punjab Hockey League is a pivotal advancement in nurturing young talent across the state. By providing structured competition, it not only offers vital match experience for developing players but also fosters tactical innovation among coaches. With each team playing 14 matches, the format guarantees growth and consistency. We believe this league will be a landmark in our efforts to strengthen grassroots hockey in Punjab and inspire similar initiatives nationwide.”