The Hockey India League (HIL), staged from 2013 to 2017, is often credited with unearthing players who powered India’s resurgence, culminating in the 2016 Junior World Cup win and Olympic bronzes in Tokyo and Paris.
However, former India captain Pargat Singh believes HIL’s role has been overstated. He argues that the real credit lies with the groundwork in identifying and nurturing talent at the grassroots, which later allowed them to shine in the league and beyond.
Mandeep Singh and Hardik Singh are just two names who rose through HIL, while the 2016 Junior World Cup-winning side boasted stars like Harmanpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh and Simranjeet Singh— many of whom went on to become Olympic medallists.
‘Can’t give the entire credit to HIL’
Speaking at the launch of Gunned Down: Murder of an Olympic Champion, a book on former captain Prithipal Singh by Sundeep Misra, Pargat stressed that HIL was only part of the story.
It’s just projected that it happened because of the league. Yes, HIL provided opportunities. But if work hadn’t been done at the grassroots, these players would never have made it even to the league.
Grassroots, infrastructure and Punjab’s role
Pargat, who served as Punjab’s Director of Sport, pointed out that his tenure was crucial in shaping the future of many players. His initiatives—filling vacant coaching posts and securing larger state budgets—laid the foundation for Punjab’s dominance in the national team.
If today 8–10 players from Punjab are in the Indian team, check when they entered the system and who ensured proper infrastructure was in place.
Politics and Hockey India elections
The three-time Olympian, now the Congress vice-president in Punjab, admitted politics has limited his involvement in sports administration. In 2010, he contested the Hockey India presidential election but lost to Vidya Stokes amid controversy over her breaching the age-cap rule.
With all due respects, a lady in her 80s versus a triple Olympian; and even then they vote for the other person. Imagine the level of those who vote.
Though Hockey India elections are due next year under current president Dilip Tirkey, Pargat appeared disinterested. “I neither compromise nor leave such things. I contribute towards hockey in Punjab, which ultimately benefits Hockey India.”
Punjab sidelined from hosting events
Pargat was vocal about Punjab’s exclusion from hosting international events since 2008, despite being India’s hockey heartland.
That has a political angle to it. I established five stadiums in Punjab, but Mr Batra’s management didn’t give us any tournament. If Punjab doesn’t host events, our players lose the chance to become heroes, and hockey loses in the process.
On India’s current squad and Sreejesh’s retirement
Looking ahead, Pargat expressed confidence in the current Indian side but highlighted one key concern.
This present set of players is good. But we may face a setback in goalkeeping after Sreejesh’s retirement. In modern hockey, goalkeeping and penalty corners are decisive. We have Harmanpreet Singh for penalty corners, but now we must focus on developing world-class goalkeepers.
