Former captain Rani Rampal believes the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) could have a transformative impact on the sport, similar to the influence the Indian Premier League (IPL) has had on cricket. She envisions the league as a platform for young girls to earn national team spots for the 2032 Olympics.
The inaugural WHIL, scheduled from January 12 to 26 in Ranchi, will feature four teams: Delhi SG Pipers, Odisha Warriors, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, and Soorma Hockey Club.
“There may be only four teams this time, but starting the league has been a long time coming. Hockey India deserves to be complimented for this,” Rampal told SAI Media.
“The men’s hockey team won back-to-back bronze medals at the Olympics in Tokyo and Paris because the foundation was laid by the men’s Hockey India League years ago,” said the former India captain.
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Rampal, who led India to a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, will be mentoring the Soorma Hockey Club franchise.
“Thanks to the introduction of the women’s HIL, we will now get to see a lot of talented young women showcasing their mettle in the 2032 and 2036 Olympics. This platform will prove immensely fruitful.”
The 30-year-old from Haryana, who has played over 250 international matches, is embarking on her first stint as part of a support staff.
The Hockey India League (HIL) began in 2013 with six men’s teams and ran for five years before being discontinued, primarily due to commercial challenges. It has now been revived after seven years with the addition of a women’s league.
Drawing parallels with the rise of women’s cricket, Rampal highlighted the success of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), which significantly raised the profile of the sport.
“Nobody knew much about women’s cricket, but now you see how popular the sport has become in the nation. Through the Women’s IPL (WPL), people started following it manifold,” she said.
Rampal also extended her best wishes to former goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who has taken on a new role as coach of the Indian junior hockey team.
“Sreejesh has almost 20 years of international experience. The junior team will perform very well under him as they will learn how to handle high-pressure situations,” said Rampal.
Discussing her own approach to coaching, Rampal said she shares a similar mindset with Sreejesh.
“I also want to impart the same knowledge and experience to the youngsters during the women’s HIL, supporting them emotionally and mentally. We must bring the best out of them,” she added.
