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Leagues will take us miles

Following IPL's success, other sport have taken the plunge into world of professional league. It is the way ahead and a good sign for India sports, writes Viren Rasquinha

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India cricket captain MS Dhoni (IPL), hockey skipper Sardar Singh (HIL) and badminton star Saina Nehwal (IBL) are icons in their respective leagues
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The new leagues in different sports coming up in India is a good sign for sports in the country. It will help in raising the profile of sports and marketing it as well. But if you expect that just organising such leagues will raise India's performance at the international level, then I am afraid, it is wrong to think that way.

If you take the example of hockey, we have Hockey India League, which is one among the many things, but people think wrongly and criticise saying what is the use of having such leagues when the Indian team cannot perform at the highest level.

Having such expectations is wrong. There are various other things like the grassroots development, coaching, planning from the junior level, better preparation at the national camp that could help India at the international level. It is not only for hockey, but across all sports such as badminton, wrestling football or any sport that has such professional leagues.

I don't think these leagues will have any negative effect on Indian team's performance. The performances at the highest level should not only be dependent on these leagues or the quality of the league in that respect England should have the best football team since they have the best league structure – English Premier League — in terms of football.

The leagues are the future of Indian sports and one among the many things done by sports. More and more leagues will happen across various sports. And it must be sustained. It is the best tool to raise the profile and sponsorship, awareness, it will help strengthen the domestic level of the sport.

The debate of country vs club as we see in cricket is an exception. In other sports, such a question will not come up. I don't think the leagues are played when the international tournaments are on because the calenders are well defined.

One of the often asked question is whether these leagues prompt sportspersons to hide their injuries. As far as players hiding injuries are concerned, these leagues are purely professional and if the player is hiding some thing, he will find it difficult in a longer run and won't be able to perform if unfit.

These leagues will not only help the sport raise its profile, but will also help upcoming and talented youngsters. For example because of HIL youngsters Nikkin Thimmaiah and Mandeep Singh came into limelight otherwise not many had heard of them. It is a good play form to shine. Obviously, there are 25 players across six-seven teams who earn a livelihood.

Another example of a 15-year-old badminton player Rahul Yadav, who was a part of Hyderabad team in Indian Badminton League. He got to travel around with Saina Nehwal. It was very inspiring for a 15-year-old like him. I think more opportunity should be created to give exposure to U-17 youngsters where it will be compulsory for them to train with the names or may be get a chance to participate for one month in a base training camp.

For example, Indian Super League teams are planning to make academies in each place. More of things like these will help at the junior level in grooming new and young talent. That will add much more depth to the leagues and contribute to the betterment and growth of the sport.

—As told to Taus Rizvi
—Viren Rasquinha is a former India hockey captain and an Olympian who played 180 international matches in a career spanning from 2002 to 2008. He is also the CEO of Olympic Gold Quest


IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN

India Premier League

As per statistics of 2013, the brand value of IPL was estimated to be around $3.03 billion
Top buy
Yuvraj Singh was the most expensive player in the IPL-7 auction held this year, with the Royal Challengers Bangalore shelling out a whopping Rs14 crore for the southpaw.

Indian Badminton League
With the inaugural edition held last year, the badminton league's brand value is estimated to be around $1 million
Top buy
The highest paid player in the auction held last year was not an Indian, but Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei, who was sold for $1,35,000 to Mumbai Masters.

Hockey India League
This league kicked off with five teams in the first season in 2013, with the sixth team added in the second season held this year. In all likelihood, there will be eight teams by 2016.
Top buy
Despite the presence of a host of foreign stars, India captain Sardar Singh was the most sought after in the auctions, fetching a cool $78,000 from the Delhi Waveriders.

Pro Kabaddi League
The latest sport to jump into the league bandwagon, the Kabaddi league will make its debut on July 26, 2014. The likes of Abhishek Bachchan, Kishore Biyani, Uday Kotak and Ronnie Screwvala have bought teams.
Top buy
The eight franchises splurged Rs4.7 crore on 96 players from India and abroad, with India captain Rakesh Kumar getting the highest bid of Rs12.8 lakh

Indian Super League
After much delay, football's Indian Super League, a joint venture by IMG-Reliance and All India Football Federation, is finally set to kick off in September this year.
Top buy
Unlike in the other leagues where auctions were held to buy players, franchises picked players by a draft system, having spent around Rs24 crore in the two-day domestic player draft.

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