- Six teams to participate; state players to gain a major platform
- League to play a pivotal role in connecting state players with national-level experience and a competitive environment – Mr. Arun Sao
- Deputy Chief Minister unveils the logo, tagline, and mascot
Preparations are underway to reshape the landscape of hockey in Chhattisgarh. The State’s Department of Sports and Youth Welfare is organizing the inaugural season of the ‘Chhattisgarh Hockey League,’ which is recognized by Hockey India. Scheduled to take place at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium in the capital, Raipur, this will be the first state-level hockey league in the country to be conducted in a fully professional and commercial format, modeled after the Hockey India League. Matches are tentatively scheduled to be played between October 21 and November 1.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare, Mr. Arun Sao, unveiled the league’s logo, tagline, and mascot today at the New Rest House in Raipur. He provided detailed information about the league during the launch event. He stated that the primary objective of the league is to provide a significant platform for Chhattisgarh’s young hockey talent and to offer them the opportunity to play alongside and learn from the country’s best players. Several departmental officials, including Sports and Youth Welfare Department Secretary Mr. Yashwant Kumar, Director Ms. Akanksha Shiksha Khalkho, Joint Director Mr. Prabhakar Pandey, and Chhattisgarh Hockey Association President Mr. Firoz Ansari, were present at the launch event.
Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sao remarked that Chhattisgarh has a rich hockey tradition and is home to many talented players. The Chhattisgarh Hockey League will provide these talents with opportunities for growth and play a crucial role in connecting the state’s players with national-level experience and a competitive environment.
Mr. Sao announced that six teams representing various regions of the state will compete in the inaugural season of the Chhattisgarh Hockey League. These teams include Rajdhani Royals, Chitrakoot Challengers, Sanskardhani Strikers, Chakradhar Champions, Nyaydhani Knights, and Mainpat Titans. These teams will bring the state’s diverse regional identities and sporting talent together on a single platform. The league’s logo is based on the map of Chhattisgarh. It embodies the spirit of Indianness through the use of saffron and green colors, while a forward-moving orange line symbolizes the continuous progress and forward momentum of the state’s people. The league’s tagline is “Chalav Re Sangi, Hockey Khelbo.” In the Chhattisgarhi dialect, this tagline conveys a sense of camaraderie and invitation, translating to “Come friend, let’s play hockey.”
The league’s official mascot is a tiger named “Baghwa.” It symbolizes Chhattisgarh’s dense forests and rich wildlife heritage. Baghwa embodies courage, strength, and fearlessness, reflecting the players’ fighting spirit and their aspiration to dominate the field.
All six teams in the competition will play league matches. Based on the results of these matches, the top four teams in the standings will advance to the semi-finals. Following the semi-finals, the winner will be determined in the final match. All umpires and technical officials for the matches will be appointed by Hockey India, ensuring technical quality and fairness throughout the competition.
The Chhattisgarh Hockey League will not be limited to just the sporting competition; special entertainment programs will also be organized daily during the tournament. This will allow spectators to enjoy entertainment alongside the thrilling hockey matches. Notably, entry for spectators will be completely free for all league matches, a move expected to draw a large number of sports enthusiasts and young people to the stadium.