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1/5 Around 15 years ago in 2004-05, the first ever sports league in India, the Premier Hockey League was launched. It was way ahead of its time - fashion show launch, marquee captains & foreign players, catchy team names, matches under flood lights, live telecast on prime time TV
2/5 pre and post match analysis, match stats and most importantly, some amazing hockey.
You have to remember, this was well before IPL days or any other league in India. You have to remember, this was well before IPL days or any other league in India.
You have to remember, this was well before IPL days or any other league in India. You have to remember, this was well before IPL days or any other league in India.
3/5 In Chandigarh, the PHL was so popular, there were literally 30,000 fans packed into the Sector 42 stadium when the home team played. Young Indian players got to share the dressing room with Dhanraj Pillay, Dilip Tirkey & global hockey stars like Jamie Dwyer & Sohail Abbas
4/5 I had the honour of leading the Maratha Warriors & 15 years later I still get asked by fans, ‘We loved the Maratha Warriors” & “what happened to the PHL?” Well, it was superb while it lasted & played a big role in boosting the popularity of hockey.
5/5 A huge thank you is owed to the ESPN fab four of @joybhattacharj, @rathindrabasu , @DJ_DilipJayaram and @hv2008 . These amazing guys worked so hard to showcase hockey the way it should be. Thank you gentlemen. Your pioneering efforts for Indian sport will never be forgotten
