HIL announces handsome cash prizes

New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) The Hockey India League (HIL) Sunday announced massive cash prizes for various categories with the Player of the Tournament set to get a whopping Rs.25 lakh.

Managing Director of Hero MotoCorp Ltd Pawan Munjal and Hockey India (HI) secretary general and chairman of HIL Narinder Batra unveiled the HIL trophy here.

Batra announced that the ‘Upcoming Player of the Tournament’ will receive the Gurdeep (Ponty) Singh Chaddha Award of Rs.20 lakh.

In every match, the best goal scorer will receive ‘Hero Goal of the Match Award’ of Rs.25,000 while the local franchise will be giving ‘The Man of the Match Award’ and the winner will get Rs.25,000.

To make the league more interesting, a special prize was announced for the spectators also. Five spectators will be chosen from the match and will be given a chance to participate in a penalty shoot-out against the goalkeeper of the home team during the break to win Airtel Golden Goal Award of Rs.10,000 each.

Munjal thanked the fans and media for their keen interest in the Hero Hockey India League and said: "Hero Hockey India League will surely bring Indian Hockey back on to the world map and this initiative is a historical moment for all of us."

The opening match of the inaugural league will be played between Delhi Waveriders and Jaypee Punjab Warriors Monday at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium here.

–Indo-Asian News Service