Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Mandaviya Directs Hockey India Committee to Revive Cash-Strapped League
The Hockey India League is having money and management problems.
Some players are owed money, and some teams may not continue.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met league teams and Hockey India officials on Monday.
He asked them to find a way to keep the league running.
A five-member committee was created to make a recovery plan.
The committee will study how the league is governed, funded and organised.
The league returned last year after being stopped for seven years.
Officials believe it is important because it gives Indian players more chances to compete.
The women’s team’s strong World Cup performance has increased interest in protecting the league.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met Hockey India officials and Hockey India League franchise representatives on Monday.
Mandaviya directed stakeholders to develop a roadmap for the league’s financial viability, sustainability and revival.
A five-member committee with two Hockey India representatives, two franchise representatives and a senior Sports Ministry official was formed.
The committee must prioritise the league’s governance model, financial model and overall structure, and submit a report within a specified timeframe.
The revived league faces unpaid player dues, rising costs, franchise participation concerns and internal tensions within Hockey India.
- Who
- Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Hockey India officials, Hockey India League franchise representatives and Sports Ministry officials.
- What
- A meeting addressed the Hockey India League’s financial and administrative problems, and established a five-member committee to prepare a revival and sustainability plan.
- When
- Monday; the meeting lasted about one hour. The league was revived last year after a seven-year gap.
- Where
- The meeting location is not specified.
- Why
- To address unpaid player dues, rising operating costs, franchise participation concerns and governance issues, and to secure the league’s future.
League Continuation Advocates
Financial and Governance Concerns
Whether the league should continue
League Continuation Advocates
The Sports Ministry and Hockey India consider the league important for developing Indian hockey and providing more opportunities for players, especially women.
Financial and Governance Concerns
Unpaid player dues, rising costs, franchise participation problems and possible team reductions have raised doubts about the league’s long-term sustainability.
How to secure the league’s future
League Continuation Advocates
Ministerial intervention, a five-member committee and possible corporate support could produce a plan to revive and stabilise the competition.
Financial and Governance Concerns
The league must resolve its financial, administrative and governance problems, while internal tensions within Hockey India continue to complicate its future.
- Meeting chair
- Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
- Committee composition
- Two Hockey India representatives, two franchise representatives and one senior Sports Ministry official
- Committee priorities
- Governance model, financial model and overall league structure
- League status
- The Hockey India League was revived last year after a seven-year hiatus
- Financial concerns
- Unpaid player dues and rising operating costs
- Participation concerns
- Franchise withdrawals and possible reductions in the number of teams
- Women’s World Cup result
- India finished fifth, its best World Cup performance since 1974