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Home , Awadhe Warriors, Bengal Warriors, Champions Tennis League, Dabang Delhi, Delhi Waveriders, Hyderabad HotShots

14 centrespread centrespread 15 NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 05, 2015 NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 05, 2015

Started in: 2014 LEAGUES OF Seasons completed: 2 Franchises: , Telugu Earlier this week, the Champions League got going, with participation from legends like Titans, , Patna and Richard Krajicek, along with a host of ATP players. If tennis isn’t your thing but football is, there’s the Pirates, , , Dabang , ongoing to tune in to. And in the second week of India it will be time for the Pro Wrestling League. These are just three of the many leagues that India is hosting, starting from the most visible Indian Most successful franchises: Jaipur Premier League for to those in lesser-hyped sports like badminton and . Indoor sports is soon Pink Panthers, U Mumba (1 title to have its fi rst league with the Indian Table Tennis League announced for next May. Here’s a guide to the each) Season window: Mid-January to various leagues that ensure non-stop sporting action virtually all round the year. Mid-February (Season 3), July- August (Season 4) :: Arka Bhattacharya CHAMPIONS HOCKEY INDIA PRO WRESTLING INDIAN SUPER PRO-KABADDI INDIAN INDIAN TENNIS LEAGUE LEAGUE LEAGUE LEAGUE LEAGUE BADMINTON PREMIER LEAGUE LEAGUE Started in: 2013 “It is gratifying to see that Started in: 2013 Started in: 2008 Seasons completed: 3 the primary objective of Out of their League: Seasons completed: One, second Seasons Completed: 8 Those that Fizzled out Franchises: , putting the game and its will start early next year , Dabang , warriors on a proud, visible Franchises: Delhi , Uttar Pradesh pedestal has been so Franchises: HotShots, Daredevils, Kings XI Indian Cricket Wizards, Rays quickly achieved. The Banga Beats, , Punjab, Knight League 20- surprise revelation Mumbai Marathas, Pistons, Riders, Royal Challengers Most successful franchises: Ranchi , Sunrisers 20 Indian Rays (2 titles) Delhi WaveRiders (1 has been the Hyderabad, Mumbai Title) enthusiasm and Most successful franchises: Championship Indians, (Suspended till deep involvement of Hyderabad HotShots (Winners), Season window: January-February 2017: Super Kings Started in: 2007 all eight team owners. Awadhe Warriors (Runners up) They have been busy and Rajasthan Royals) Seasons completed: 2 Season window: January 2-17 rebuilding their teams by Most successful franchises: (2007 and 2008) “HIL is a platform Started in: 2015 (Season 2) luring established stars Mumbai Indians, Kolkata What went wrong: The BCCI for national and Seasons completed: Will into their squads. More Knight Riders and Chennai refused to acknowledge the ICL, international talent commence its fi rst season in remarkable is their effort to Super Kings (2 titles each) fl oated by Zee Entertainment to showcase their December this year Started in: 2014 “IBL set new benchmarks. scour the country for new, It broke all barriers to IPL Total Value: Enterprises, as an offi cial league. skills and prowess in Franchises: The BCCI not only banned the Delhi Veer, Punjab Seasons completed: One; second is young talent” bring world’s best a fun yet competitive Royals, UP Warriors, Haryana ongoing Charu Sharma, $3.54 billion players, but also the stadiums and Started in: 2014 environment. It helps in Hammers, Bengaluru Yodhas and director, Mashal players together. in 2015, KKR most valued administrators associated with the Franchises: Atletico De Kolkata, FC identifying and nurturing Mumbaiche Garude Sports Youngsters got a franchise ICL. Faced with this pressure, the Seasons completed: One; second is young talent while giving Mumbai City, Pune City FC, Kerala chance to compete players accepted BCCI's olive branch ongoing Season window: This year’s Season Window: April-May Blasters, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, at a level that’s on of amnesty and returned to the them the opportunity to rub edition starts on 10 December and Delhi Dynamos, NorthEast United, Franchises: Mumbai Tennis a par with World domestic and international circuits, shoulders with the greats of ends on 27 December Kerala Blasters “The professional Masters, Punjab Marshalls, the game and this augurs well Championships” impact of the IPL has leaving the league without any , India’s No 1 Women players leading to its closure Orangers, Rangers, for the country. Fast paced, Most successful franchises: Atletico ensured that every Hyderabad Aces and V Chennai Singles Player, on the IBL website action packed games are a “We were seeking De Kolkata (winners, 2014), Warriors Kerala Blasters (runners-up, 2014) Indian kid growing delight for the spectators as an opportunity to up with dreams of Most successful franchises: well as the sponsors” invest in the sports Season window: Early October - playing cricket is Rendezvous Pune Marathas Mid December Narinder Dhruv Batra, chairman, HIL industry and Pro thinking largely, if (winners), Delhi Dreams (runners- Wrestling League not exclusively, of the up) came at the right time. limited-overs format” Season window: End November to We are delighted to be the “I spoke to Beckham Geoffrey Boycott, on the IPL early December organisers and promoters recently. He is going for the fi rst edition of Pro to play a match in The IPL's Premier Wrestling League in India London. He invited Twitter followers “The inaugural and are hopeful to provide me but I can’t go (@IPL) — 3.91 Hockey League season saw an action packed event to obviously. So he million Year Started: 2005 followers international stars the wrestling enthusiasts” asked me about Delhi. take their world Marcelo (the Brazilian — comfortably Seasons completed: 4 (2005-2008) Kartikeya Sharma, chairman & outnumber those class talent to six who plays for Real What went wrong: The PHL was limited in managing director, ProSportify, of some older and cities. Cities like Raipur and Madrid) always asks its scope and organisers were faced with organisers of established leagues me about India. The escalating costs. The death-knell for the Nagpur will get to see world and tournaments league came when organiser Indian Hockey class tennis and we are very game against FC Goa such as La Liga Federation (IHF) had an offi cial caught on delighted to have these was broadcast in (1.83 million), cities join CTL in 2015” Brazil. ISL is very tape accepting money to induct a player into Bundesliga the national team and IHF was subsequently , managing director, important now” (5,77,000) and Champions Tennis League Roberto Carlos on ISL suspended by the IOA. Now, the governing Wimbledon body for the game in India is Hockey India (HI) (1.93 million)