With Rs 4 cr as prize, India's world series may well be the IPL of hockey

Mumbai: The champion team of the inaugural World Series Hockey will get Rs four crore as prize money while the runners-up will be richer by two crore, the organisers announced today. In all, the orgainsers will distribute Rs 10 crore in prize money and they claimed that they are offering the highest ever prize money for any hockey event in the world. “In fact the champion team in WSH stands to win almost 30 times more prize money, as compared to the Euro Hockey League, the leading domestic Hockey league in Europe,” a release by the organisers said. [caption id=“attachment_135134” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“The Champions of the tournament will earn Rs. 4 crore in prize money.AFP”]  [/caption] The third and fourth place teams will get Rs one crore each. “All WSH franchises have committed to sharing a minimum of 50 percent of their team winnings with the players,” the release added. Apart from that, the most valuable player in the league will get Rs one crore and the best Indian player will be richer by Rs 50 lakhs. The highest goal scorer will get Rs 25 lakhs and the player who emerges as ‘Game Changer’ will also get the same amount. The ‘Rookie of the Year’ will earn Rs 10 lakh. “This is a definite game changer for hockey players in India and across the world. WSH has ensured that the time for hockey players to take centre stage is finally here,” Yannick Colaco, COO of Nimbus Sport said. The WSH will be held from December 17 to January 22 and will involve 200 leading players – Indian and international. The inaugural edition of the league will comprise eight teams out of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Pune, Bhopal, Punjab, Ranchi and Rourkela. PTI