Six franchises announced, with 132 players set to compete from October 21; winners to receive ₹11 lakh as tournament combines hockey with cultural performances
TFP Bureau, Raipur, October 12, 2026: Former India hockey captain Sardar Singh has been named ambassador of the inaugural Chhattisgarh Hockey League (CHL), which will be held in Raipur from October 21 to November 1. Deputy Chief Minister and Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Arun Sao announced the appointment at an event on Monday where the league’s six franchises were allocated their teams through a draw and their jerseys were unveiled.
The tournament will be played at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium in Raipur. Each franchise has been allotted a squad of 22 players and a head coach, with a total of 132 players—including 108 from Chhattisgarh and 24 guest players—set to participate.
Announcing Sardar Singh’s appointment, Sao said his experience and guidance would help young players and strengthen efforts to promote hockey at the grassroots level. He welcomed the six franchise owners and sponsors, describing their participation as an important partnership with the state government to revive and develop the sport.
Sardar Singh, who is also associated with coaching through Hockey India, said the league could provide a significant platform for Chhattisgarh’s hockey talent. He said his role as ambassador was an opportunity to help local players develop into national and international-level performers.
Six franchises, prominent players
The six franchises have been acquired by Jindal Steel Limited, South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Shri Bajrang Power & Ispat Limited, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board, Sarda Energy & Minerals Limited and NMDC Limited.
Their respective teams are Chakradhar Champions, Nyaydhani Knights, Rajdhani Royals, Mainpat Tigers, Sanskardhani Strikers and Bailadila Bulls.
Each squad will feature a former Olympian as its marquee player. The six marquee players are S.V. Sunil, Surender Kumar, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Chinglensana Singh, Shamsher Singh and Pradeep Mor. Their participation is expected to give local players an opportunity to compete alongside experienced international-level players.
The tournament schedule includes 18 men’s matches and an exhibition women’s hockey match. All matches will be officiated by officials affiliated with Hockey India.
₹21 lakh prize pool
The league has a total prize pool of ₹21 lakh. The winning team will receive ₹11 lakh, while the runners-up will get ₹6 lakh. The remaining ₹4 lakh has been earmarked for individual awards.
The Player of the Match in each of the 18 men’s games will receive ₹10,000, taking the total allocation for these awards to ₹1.80 lakh. The Player of the Tournament will receive ₹1 lakh, while the top scorer, best goalkeeper, best Chhattisgarhi player and best Under-21 emerging player will each receive ₹30,000.
Entry to all matches will be free. The first match each day will begin at 5.30 pm and the second at 7.30 pm, with entertainment programmes scheduled between the games. The tournament will also be streamed live on JioHotstar.
Opening ceremony to showcase Chhattisgarh’s culture
The opening ceremony will combine sporting celebrations with performances highlighting Chhattisgarh’s art and cultural heritage, along with patriotic programmes. Punjabi singers Jassi Gill and Babbal Rai are among the main attractions. Former hockey players will also be felicitated.
The league’s identity includes a dedicated logo, mascot and tagline. Its mascot, ‘Baghwa’, is a tiger symbolising the pride of Chhattisgarh, while the tagline is ‘Chalo Re Sangi Hockey Khelbo’.
The organisers said the league aims to provide a high-level platform for local players while strengthening the state’s hockey ecosystem. Representatives of the franchises and sponsors, along with officials from the Sports and Youth Welfare Department and Chhattisgarh Hockey Association, attended the announcement event. Those present included department secretary Yashwant Kumar, director Akanksha Shiksha Khalkho, association president Manish Shrivastava, and former international hockey players Mrinal Chaubey and Renuka Yadav.
