Udita attracts highest bid in first half of HIL women''s auction

     New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) Indian defender Udita Duhan emerged as the costliest buy at the Hockey India League women's auction after she was acquired by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for Rs 32 lakh here on Tuesday.
     Dutch star drag-flicker Yibbi Janssen was the second most expensive player and was bought by Odisha Warriors for Rs 29 lakh, followed by young Indian forward Sunelita Toppo, who was picked up by Delhi SG Pipers for Rs 24.00 lakh.
     Indian players Lalremsiami (for Rs 25 lakh to Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers), Sunelita Toppo (for Rs 24 lakh to Delhi SG Pipers), and Sangita Kumari (for Rs 22 lakh to Delhi SG Pipers) attracted significant attention in the first half of the auction.
     Several overseas players, including Belgium's Charlotte Englebert (for Rs 16 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club), Germany's Charlotte Stapenhorst (for Rs 16 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club), and Australia's Jocelyn Bartram (for Rs 15 lakh to Odisha Warriors) were the notable buys.
     Veteran India striker Vandana Katariya fetched Rs 10.5 lakh from Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers.
     India captain Salima Tete (Rs 20 lakh), Ishika Chaudhary (Rs 16 lakh) and Neha Goyal (Rs 10 lakh) were picked up by Odisha Warriors.
     Former India captain Savita (Rs 20 lakh), Sharmila Devi (Rs 10 lakh) and Nikki Pradhan (Rs 12 lakh) are some of the big Indian names bought by Soorma Hockey Club.
     Delhi SG Pipers also picked up India internationals Navneet Kaur (Rs 19 lakh), young goalkeeper Bichu Devi Kharibam (Rs 16 lakh) and Deepika (Rs 20 lakh).
     After approving a request from unsold players of the Indian senior women's and junior teams to reduce their base price to Rs 2 lakh, players such as Madhuri Kindo (for 3.40 lakh to Odisha Warriors), Jyoti Chhatri (for 5 lakh to Odisha Warriors), Deepika Soreng (for 2.20 lakh to Soorma Hockey Club), and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal (for 4.90 lakh to Odisha Warriors), among others, secured their place in the inaugural edition of the Women's HIL.
     At the auction, all four franchises made strategic bids to build their core team.
     Each team consists of 24 players -- 16 Indian and 8 overseas. The teams had a purse of Rs 2 crores, with players categorised into three price slabs -- Rs 10 lakh, Rs 5 lakh, and Rs 2 lakh.
     The HIL 2024-25 will be held from December 28, 2024 to February 1, 2025 at two venues -- Rourkela (for men) and Ranchi (for women).
     The inaugural season of the women's edition of HIL 2024-25 will feature a total of four teams, with two additional teams to be introduced in the tournament's second season.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)