Hockey India League Auction: German Star Moritz Fuerste Breaks the 100,000-Dollar Barrier
In the Hockey India League auction, Kalinga Lancers opted for playmaker Moritz Fuerste, who had a base price of 30,000 USD. Big bucks for Sardar Singh too.
Ace German playmaker Moritz Fuerste broke the hundred thousand dollar mark to be sold for $105,000 to Kalinga Lancers at the Hockey India League (HIL) players' auction at a posh hotel here on Thursday. (Hockey India League Auction Blog)
The midfielder had a base price of $30,000 and Delhi Waveriders and Uttar Pradesh Wizards were leading the race in securing the two-time Olympic champion.
However, the Lancers entered the race much later, when the bid was in $90,000s, to steal Fuerste for the highest price of the morning which none of the bidders could match.
His compatriot Florian Fuchs was sold for the second highest price of the morning -- $96,000 to Dabang Mumbai.
Earlier, Lancers, Wizards and Mumbai were in the fight to secure the striker but Lancers soon pulled out, leaving only Wizards and Mumbai in the race. Eventually Dabang beat Mumbai and took the 23-year-old striker.
Earlier, India captain Sardar Singh was sold to Jaypee Punjab Warriors for $58,000. Lancers and Punjab fought for this bid while Australian midfielder Kieran Govers was sold to Mumbai for $36,000.
Govers' compatriot Flynn Ogilvie was sold for his base price of $10,000 while India's Vikramjit Singh was sold for his base price of $4,500 to Ranchi Rays.