Hockey India League 2016: Ranchi to Host Semifinal, Final of Cash-Rich Tournament
Hockey India League's opening game will be played on January 18 between Kalinga Lancers, who has the costliest player in German Moritz Fuerste and Uttar Pradesh Wizards, who have young Indian forward Akashdeep Singh, in Bhubaneswar. The semifinal and final will be played in Ranchi on February 20 and 21 respectively
Hockey India League (HIL) defending champions Ranchi Rays will play host to the semifinals and final of the fourth edition of the tournament on February 20 and 21 respectively at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium. (Hockey India League Auction: Akashdeep Singh Becomes a Millionaire; no Big Deal for Sardar, Dwyer)
The HIL, the flagship event of Hockey India, is scheduled to be played across six venues in the country starting January 18. (Hockey India League Auction: German Star Moritz Fuerste Breaks the 100,000-Dollar Barrier)
The six franchises battling for supremacy in the richest field hockey league in the world are Jaypee Punjab Warriors, Delhi Waveriders, Kalinga Lancers, Uttar Pradesh Wizards, Dabang Mumbai and title holders Ranchi Rays, co-owned by India limited overs cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
The opening match of the tournament will be played between Kalinga Lancers, who made the biggest buy of the season in German Moritz Fuerste and Uttar Pradesh Wizards, who were able to draft in young Indian forward Akashdeep Singh.
The tournament opener will be staged in Bhubaneswar.
Defending champions Ranchi Rays will open their campaign against last year's runners-up Jaypee Punjab Warriors in Chandigarh on January 19.