In a major development, Hockey India officials on Saturday inaugurated the much-awaited Ashmita Hockey League. Ashmita Hockey League in Jalandhar was inaugurated by Bholanath Singh, General Secretary of Hockey India, and Dr. RP Singh, Hockey India Selector. The event is organised by Hockey Punjab and will run until March 27.
Talking to True Scoop, Hockey Punjab Spokesperson Kulbit Saini stated that Ashmita Hockey League's inaugural ceremony witnessed the presence of several prominent figures from the hockey fraternity, including Nitin Kohli, President of Hockey Punjab, Ripudaman Kumar Singh, Ramsharan, and Mandeep Singh, all international hockey players. GS Sangha, an international umpire, and Olympian Rajinder Singh also graced the event.
The league promises to showcase high-intensity matches with skilled players competing for top honors over the next few days.
More on Ashmita Hockey League Jalandhar
Providing details about the event, Nitin Kohli, President of Hockey Punjab, and Amarjit Singh Puar, General Secretary of Hockey Punjab, stated that this is the first time Punjab is hosting the league as part of an initiative by the Sports Authority of India and the Ministry of Sports to promote women’s hockey in the country. The Ashmita Hockey League is a nationwide scheme covering eight states, including Punjab, to support the growth of women’s hockey at the grassroots level.
Cash Prizes for Top Teams
The league will feature 8 teams each in the Junior and Sub-Junior categories, representing different districts of Punjab. Players born on or after January 1, 2006, will compete in the Junior category, while those born on or after January 1, 2009, will play in the Sub-Junior category. The tournament will follow a league-cum-knockout format.
To encourage young talent, significant cash prizes have been announced:
- ₹2 lakh each for the winning teams in both categories
- ₹1.6 lakh each for the runner-up teams
- ₹1.2 lakh each for the third-place teams