IN OCTOBER, WHEN the Hockey India League (HIL) player auctions were held, 96 international stars were snapped up by eight men and four women franchises. Now, with a fortnight left for the competition to begin, more than one-fourth of them have pulled out.
The reasons? The timing of the league, which begins on December 28 (days after Christmas and just before the New Year); an unattractive salary, which is less than many Indian players; and the prospect of spending over a month in Rourkela where there aren't many options to unwind after matches.
So far, 18 men's players, primarily from the Netherlands and Germany, have pulled out. Additionally, seven women players have withdrawn as well. These players pulled out after the auctions took place, leaving Hockey India red-faced. The national governing body is likely to bar all the players - apart from those with legitimate fitness concerns and have provided a medical certificate - from playing for three years until the next auction.
This story is from the December 12, 2024 edition of Financial Express Pune.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 12, 2024 edition of Financial Express Pune.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
More Indians looking to fly biz class this holiday season
The number of Indians eyeing to fly business class has seen a sharp uptick this holiday season compared to last year. While the trend is more pronounced in international travel, travel agents and online platforms suggest that it is also emerging on many domestic routes.
Markets slump over 1%
● Investors' wealth down ₹4.92 lakh cr
EPFO weighs higher equity investments
● Labour ministry panel to look at ways to raise exposure
Indian firms turn to euro, yen swaps to trim borrowing cost
INDIAN FIRMS ARE opting for cross-currency swaps to convert part of their debt into the euro or the Japanese yen in order to trim borrowing costs, said bankers.
IIT-Madras to offer fine arts, culture courses
A FIRST for Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), IIT-Madras on Tuesday said it would offer two supernumerary seats in each undergraduate programme to students who have achieved excellence in fine arts and culture, starting from the upcoming academic session.
Not even 2% work-linked higher education courses yet: Report
EDUCATION-INDUSTRY MISMATCH
The world's busiest airline routes in 2024 are largely in Asia
● Leisure continues to outshine corporate trips
Panel suggests LS elections template for entrance tests
DRAWING PARALLELS WITH the conduct of general elections, a high-level committee set up by the Education ministry and chaired by former ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan has proposed a similar framework for holding important national entrance tests to ensure transparency.
Siddique murder: Court sends accused to police custody till Dec 20
A SPECIAL COURT in Mumbai on Tuesday remanded five accused arrested in NCP leader Baba Siddique's murder case to police custody till December 20 after investigators said they need to interrogate them about an absconding accused and the weapons used in the crime.
DPIIT inks pact with HDFC Bank
THE DEPARTMENT FOR Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on Tuesday said it has inked pacts with HDFC Bank and Tally Solutions to help startups growth.
