New Delhi: The first ever auction for the Hockey India League women’s competition was concluded on Tuesday in the national capital with a total of 96 players went under the hammer. But the highlight of the auction was the confusion surrounded by the number of teams participating for the event.
When the Hockey India League was earlier this month announced to return in the Indian sports’ domain, it was said that the women’s competition, the first of its kind, will start with the participation of six teams.
On Monday (October 14), a day before the women’s auction, the Hockey India (HI) announced that the inaugural season will feature only four teams – Soorma Hockey Club, Haryana and Punjab (owned by JSW), Shrachi Rahr Bengal Tigers, West Bengal (owned by Shrachi Sports), SG Pipers, Delhi (owned by SG Sports & Entertainment), and Odisha Warriors, Rourkela (owned by Navoyam Sports Ventures Pvt Ltd.)
Hyderabad Toofan and BC Jindal Group, Mumbai – the two other teams in fray to start in the HIL Women’s competition – were withheld by the national sports body (HI) citing pending legal documentation, as per a report by The Indian Express.
Consequently, young Indian players, who had opted for base price of INR 10 lakhs, felt the nerve and eventually decided to reduce their base price given each of the four franchises was allotted a purse of INR 2 crore. The senior Indian and star overseas players inevitably attracted higher bids, leading the youngsters to pull down their base price with the intention of finding a franchise.
Players such as Deepika Soreng and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal didn’t find any bidders in the initial phase, as per the Indian Express report. Some of the senior Indian players along with junior players requested the HIL Governing Committee to revise their base price, bringing it down to INR 2 lakh.
“The Hockey India League Governing Committee is pleased to announce that it has approved a request from unsold players of the Indian Senior Women’s and Junior Women’s teams to reduce their base price to 2 lakhs,” the statement of Hockey India League Governing Committee read.
“This decision comes in response to a collective appeal from the players and demonstrates our commitment to supporting athlete participation and furthering the growth of women’s hockey in India,” it further noted.
Who were the top expensive players in Hockey India League Women’s auction 2024?
Indian defender Udita Duhan fetched the most bids over more than 300 players registered for the auction. Udita was acquired by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for INR 32 lakh to become the most expensive player at the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League auction.
Netherlands’ Paris Olympics gold medallist Yibbi Jansen turned out as the most expensive overseas pick after Odisha Warriors shelled out INR 29 lakh to secure the star mid-fielder’s services.
Promising young Indian players Lalremsiami (for INR 25 lakh to Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers), Sunelita Toppo (for INR 24 lakh to Delhi SG Pipers), and Sangita Kumari (for INR 22 lakh to Delhi SG Pipers) attracted significant attention from the franchises.
Among the current Indian women’s team core group, Salima Tete (INR 20 lakh) and Savita Punia (INR 20 lakh) were bought by Soorma Hockey Club, while Delhi SG Pipers roped in Navneet Kaur for 19 lakh.
Meanwhile, several overseas players including Belgium’s Charlotte Englebert (for INR 16 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club), Germany’s Charlotte Stapenhorst (for INR 16 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club), and Australia’s Jocelyn Bartram (for INR 15 lakh to Odisha Warriors) were the notable buys.
Top five expensive picks at Hockey India League women’s auction
1) Udita – Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers – INR 32 lakh
2) Yibbi Jansen (NED) – Odisha Warriors – INR 29 lakh
3) Lalremsiami – Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers – INR 25 lakh
4) Sunelita Toppo – Delhi SG Pipers – INR 24 lakh
5) Sangita Kumari – Delhi SG Pipers – INR 22 lakh
Complete list of squads for Women’s Hockey India League after auction
Soorma Hockey Club
| Sr. No | Player | Price (in Lakh) |
| 1 | Salima Tete | 20.00 |
| 2 | Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke | 21.00 |
| 3 | Sharmila Devi | 10.00 |
| 4 | Savita | 20.00 |
| 5 | Nikki Pradhan | 12.00 |
| 6 | Jyoti | 16.00 |
| 7 | Charlotte Englebert (BEL) | 16.00 |
| 8 | Charlotte Stapenhorst (GER) | 16.00 |
| 9 | Nike Lorenz (GER) | 11.00 |
| 10 | Maria Verschoor (NED) | 10.00 |
| 11 | Deepika Soreng | 2.20 |
| 12 | Akshata Abaso Dhekale | 3.10 |
| 13 | Preeti | 2.00 |
| 14 | Hina Bano | 3.00 |
| 15 | Sonam | 2.00 |
| 16 | Nidhi | 2.00 |
| 17 | Penny Squibb (AUS) | 6.60 |
| 18 | Jimena Maria Cedrés (ARG) | 5.80 |
| 19 | Natalia Salvador (CHL) | 2.00 |
| 20 | Anna Toman (GBR) | 10.00 |
| 21 | Upasana Singh | 2.10 |
| 22 | Aishwarya Rajesh Chavan | 2.10 |
| 23 | Ajmina Kujur | 2.00 |
| 24 | Amanpreet Kaur | 2.00 |
Delhi SG Pipers
| Sr. No | Player | Price (in Lakh) |
| 1 | Sunelita Toppo | 24.00 |
| 2 | Sangita Kumari | 22.00 |
| 3 | Manisha Chauhan | 12.50 |
| 4 | Navneet Kaur | 19.00 |
| 5 | Bichu Devi Kharibam | 16.00 |
| 6 | Deepika | 20.00 |
| 7 | Elodie Picard (BEL) | 10.00 |
| 8 | Mumtaz Khan | 11.00 |
| 9 | Emma Puvrez (BEL) | 10.00 |
| 10 | Xan de Waard (NED) | 10.00 |
| 11 | Bansari Solanki | 3.00 |
| 12 | Khaidem Shileima Chanu | 2.50 |
| 13 | Jyoti Singh | 2.00 |
| 14 | Manisha | 3.70 |
| 15 | Ishika | 5.40 |
| 16 | Geeta Yadav | 2.00 |
| 17 | Stephanie De Groof (BEL) | 5.00 |
| 18 | Giselle Anne Ansley (GBR) | 5.00 |
| 19 | Miri Maroney (AUS) | 2.00 |
| 20 | Elizabeth Ann Neal (GBR) | 2.00 |
| 21 | Charlotte Watson (GBR) | 2.00 |
| 22 | Preeti Dubey | 6.70 |
| 23 | Himanshi | 2.10 |
| 24 | Manashri | 2.00 |
Odisha Warriors
| Sr. No | Player | Price (in Lakh) |
| 1 | Ishika Chaudhary | 16.00 |
| 2 | Neha Goyal | 10.00 |
| 3 | Jocelyn Bartram (AUS) | 15.00 |
| 4 | Freeke Georgette Marie (NED) | 10.00 |
| 5 | Annu | 10.00 |
| 6 | Claire Colwil (AUS) | 13.00 |
| 7 | Deep Grace Ekka | 10.00 |
| 8 | Yibbi Jansen (NED) | 29.00 |
| 9 | Kaitlin Nobbs (AUS) | 10.00 |
| 10 | Madhuri Kindo | 3.40 |
| 11 | Jyoti Chhatri | 5.00 |
| 12 | Rutuja Dadaso Pisal | 4.90 |
| 13 | Baljeet Kaur | 10.00 |
| 14 | Anjali Barwa | 2.00 |
| 15 | Sakshi Rana | 7.00 |
| 16 | Kanika Siwach | 3.10 |
| 17 | Engil Harsha Rani Minz | 2.00 |
| 18 | Lilly Paulin Stoffelsma (GER) | 7.00 |
| 19 | Sonika | 5.40 |
| 20 | Victoria Sauze (ARG) | 6.80 |
| 21 | Michelle Fille (NED) | 6.60 |
| 22 | Nisha | 2.60 |
| 23 | Sadhna Sengar | 2.10 |
| 24 | Nandni | 5.00 |
Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers
| Sr. No | Player | Price (in Lakh) |
| 1 | Vandana Katariya | 10.50 |
| 2 | Udita | 32.00 |
| 3 | Lalremsiami | 25.00 |
| 4 | Beauty Dung Dung | 12.50 |
| 5 | Ambre Ballenghien (BEL) | 14.00 |
| 6 | Kathryn Mullan (IRL) | 10.00 |
| 7 | Upton Roisin (IRL) | 10.00 |
| 8 | Elena Neill (IRL) | 10.00 |
| 9 | Marima Lalramnghaki | 10.00 |
| 10 | Mahima Choudhary | 10.00 |
| 11 | Sarah Hawkshaw (IRE) | 10.00 |
| 12 | Eva Roma Maria (NED) | 10.00 |
| 13 | Jyothi Edula | 2.00 |
| 14 | Huda Khan | 2.00 |
| 15 | Binima Dhan | 2.00 |
| 16 | Lalrinpuii Pachuav | 2.00 |
| 17 | Munmuni Das | 2.00 |
| 18 | Jennifer Rizzo (USA) | 2.40 |
| 19 | Grace O Hanlon (NZL) | 5.00 |
| 20 | Vidyashree | 2.00 |
| 21 | Priyanka Wankhede | 2.00 |
| 22 | Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam | 9.50 |
| 23 | Shilpi Dabas | 2.00 |
| 24 | Vandana Patel | 2.00 |
