Mohali: In a significant boost to grassroots hockey in India, the RoundGlass Hockey Academy (RGHA), in collaboration with Hockey Punjab, has announced the second edition of the Punjab Hockey League (PHL) for junior players. With a record total prize pool of ₹30 lakh — the highest ever for a junior-level hockey competition in India — the league aims to foster young talent and provide meaningful professional and personal development opportunities.
This year’s PHL will see participation from eight academy teams from across the country, competing in two distinct phases. The first phase will be held from August 31 to September 9 at the Mohali International Hockey Stadium, while the second phase, including the finals, will take place from September 15 to 27 at the Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar, culminating in the grand final on September 27.
The tournament format ensures fair reward distribution based on final rankings, with all teams receiving a share of the prize money. Each team is allowed to register a squad of up to 20 players, including 3 Under-21 players (born after January 1, 2005) and 17 Under-19 players (born after January 1, 2007), ensuring age-group representation and competitiveness.
Speaking on the initiative, RoundGlass founder Gurpreet “Sunny” Singh said,
“RoundGlass Hockey aims to reignite India’s passion for field hockey. Hosting the Punjab Hockey League on such a large scale for juniors is a key step towards that mission. It’s a landmark initiative to strengthen grassroots hockey and expose young players to more competitive match experience.”
Nitin Kohli, President of Hockey Punjab, emphasized the league’s impact on talent development across the state:
“PHL is a vital move to nurture budding hockey talent across Punjab. A regular and structured competition not only gives players the essential match experience but also motivates coaches to introduce strategic innovations. Each team will play 14 matches, ensuring both consistency and skill development. We believe this league will be a milestone in promoting grassroots hockey in Punjab and inspire similar initiatives nationwide.”
In its inaugural edition, the Punjab Hockey League featured six teams from within the state, following a home-and-away format. With this expanded second edition, RGHA and Hockey Punjab reaffirm their commitment to creating a robust hockey ecosystem for the next generation of Indian players.
