Chhattisgarh Hockey League: 223 Players Took the Field on First Day of Selection Trial, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Saw Met the Players

Chhattisgarh Hockey League (CHL) started a two-day selection trial for its inaugural season at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium in Raipur. On the first day, 223 out of 373 registered players attended the trial on pitch-1. Deputy Chief Minister and Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Arun Saw visited the venue, encouraged the players, met them on the field and said that the roots of hockey in Chhattisgarh are deep and the enthusiasm of the participants is proof of that. He observed their passion and said that the league aims to give young players a big platform to share the field with national and international athletes and to provide opportunities for every talent to progress to state, national and international levels. The trial, organized by the Sports and Youth Welfare Department for selecting players for the six teams in the CHL, is being conducted under the guidelines of the Chhattisgarh Hockey Association. The panel of officials, experts, association members and senior players – including sports officer Dinu Prasad Patel, senior hockey coach Mrs. Rashmi Sandhya Ekka, senior coach Rakesh Toppo, international player Mr. Mrinal Choubey, Mr. Anurag Srivastava and veteran player Amitabh Manikpuri – oversaw the trial. The selection trial will continue on September 29 from 9 am, after which the list of selected players and the report will be submitted to the sports directorate for forming the six league teams. About the Chhattisgarh Hockey League: CHL is the first official state-level hockey league of Chhattisgarh, organized by the Sports and Youth Welfare Department of the state. It is designed to provide a structured, competitive platform for state players to showcase their talent, gain experience and access state, national and international opportunities. The first season will run from 21 October to 1 November 2026 at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium, Raipur, featuring six franchise-based teams – Capital Royals, Chitrakote Challengers, Sanskritdhani Strikers, Chakradharpur Champions, Nyaydhani Knights and Mainpat Titans – each with a 22-player squad comprising 18 players from Chhattisgarh and four players from outside the state. The league aims to strengthen the hockey ecosystem in Chhattisgarh, create more opportunities for emerging players and contribute to the continuous development of sports in the state. With the tagline "Chalo Re Sangi, Hockey Khelo", the league showcases Chhattisgarh’s sporting identity, regional pride and growing aspirations in hockey.