Delhi Waveriders face Jaypee Punjab Warriors in Hockey India League opener

NEW DELHI, 20 December 2012: The Hockey India League (HIL) announced their inaugural season 2013 match schedule, which will start from January 14 and finish on February 10.

The world’s prominent hockey league will feature 34 matches in 28 days and will be played in five franchisee cities – Delhi, Jalandhar, Lucknow, Mumbai and Ranchi.

The opening ceremony will be held on January 14 at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi just before the first match of the League, where Delhi Waveriders will face Jaypee Punjab Warriors, featuring Australian hockey star Jamie Dwyer, at 20:00 hrs.

Jalandhar will host the second match at Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium where the home team Jaypee Punjab Warriors will face Ranchi Rhinos at 18:00 hrs on January 16. Mumbai Magicians will play their first match in New Delhi against Delhi Waveriders at 20:00 hrs the same day.

Uttar Pradesh Wizards will commence their contest against Jaypee Punjab Warriors in Jalandhar at 20:00 hrs on January 17.

Ranchi Rhinos’ Bisra Munda Hockey Stadium will host the first match on January 18 against Mumbai Magicians at 20:00 hrs.  The first home match of Uttar Pradesh Wizards will be played on January 19 against Delhi Waveriders at Guru Gobind Singh Sports College in Lucknow at 11:30 hrs.

Mumbaikars will watch their first home match at Mumbai Hockey Association Stadium on 20 January against Jaypee Punjab Warriors at 20:00 hrs.

The Republic Day will bring more joy to all fans as they will see the clash of titans on 26 January when Delhi Waveriders will lock their horns with Mumbai Magicians at 18:00 in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh Wizards will try to tame Ranchi Rhinos at 15:00 in Lucknow.

Matches at Delhi, Jalandhar, Mumbai and Ranchi will be played under floodlights while matches in Lucknow will be played during daytime. Play-off semi-final matches will be played on  February 9 with the HIL Final being played at 20:00 hrs on 10 February. The venue for the Semi-finals and Final is yet to be decided. All the matches will be live on Star Sports.

Dr. Narinder Batra, Sectary-General of Hockey India and Chairman-Hockey India League stated: “We are very pleased to announce the confirmed match schedule for the first ever Hockey India League, which will feature many of the big hockey stars from around the world. It will be a real treat to hockey fans as they will see the toughest battles among the five teams. We are pretty sure that the HIL will become an unforgettable moment for all players, sponsors and spectators.”

HIL Press release