Six franchises, a tiger mascot named Baghwa and Sardar Singh as ambassador: the Chhattisgarh Hockey League opens

21 October 2026

The first season of the Chhattisgarh Hockey League opened at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium in Raipur, with Union Minister of State Raksha Khadse as guest of honour. The league is run by the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare of the Government of Chhattisgarh and is sanctioned by Hockey India. Six franchise teams are taking part: Rajdhani Royals, Nyayadhani Knights, Sanskardhani Strikers, Chakradhar Champions, Bailadila Bulls and Mainpat Titans. There are 132 players in all, 108 of them from Chhattisgarh and 24 guest players, with each squad of 22 carrying 18 players from the State and four from outside. The season runs from 21 October to 1 November with 18 men's matches, then the semi-finals and the final, and a women's exhibition match is also planned. The prize pool is 21 lakh rupees, with 11 lakh for the winners and 6 lakh for the runners-up. Olympian and former India captain Sardar Singh is the league ambassador, the mascot is Baghwa, drawn from the tiger, and the tagline is Chalo Re Sangi, Hockey Khelbo.