By Admin 
In a major setback to the Hockey India League, UP Rudras has decided to step away from the competition after just one season, citing doubts over financial sustainability, becoming the second team from the men’s section to withdraw and leaving the competition with only seven teams at the moment.
The decision, communicated to Hockey India and officially announced on Monday, has raised doubts over not just the finances of the league but also the long-term continuation of the HIL itself.
“We value what the league has brought to Indian hockey, but sustainability challenges made continuation untenable. Our responsibility now is to direct resources where they can have the greatest long-term impact and grassroots development,” UP Rudras Team Director Cedric D’Souza said in a statement.
The decision, coming just two days before the scheduled players’ mini-auction ahead of HIL’s second season, has also put a question mark on the future of the franchise’s players. HI secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, however, insisted that player interest remained the main priority and the federation would manage things.