Six teams will participate, players from the state will get a big platform

The league will play a vital role in connecting the state's players with national-level experience and competitive environment – ​​Shri Arun Saw

Deputy Chief Minister unveiled the logo, tagline and mascot

Raipur, August 2026. Preparations are underway to create a new image of hockey in Chhattisgarh. The state's Sports and Youth Welfare Department is organizing the first season of the Chhattisgarh Hockey League, recognized by Hockey India. This league, to be held at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium in the capital, Raipur, will be the first state-level hockey league to be held in any state in the country. It will be organized in a completely professional and commercial format, similar to the Hockey India League. The league matches will be played from October 21st to November 1st, the tentative dates for the event.

Deputy Chief Minister and Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Shri Arun Saw today unveiled the logo, tagline and mascot of the league at Naveen Vishram Bhawan in the capital Raipur. He gave detailed information about the league at the launch event. He said that the main objective of the league is to provide a big platform to the young hockey talents of Chhattisgarh and give them an opportunity to play with and learn from the best players of the country. Secretary of Sports and Youth Welfare Department Shri Yashwant Kumar, Director Ms. Akanksha Shiksha Khalkho, Joint Director Shri Prabhakar Pandey and President of Chhattisgarh Hockey Association Shri Firoz Ansari along with many departmental officers were also present at the launch event of the league.

Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Saw said that Chhattisgarh has a rich hockey tradition and the state boasts many talented players. The Chhattisgarh Hockey League will provide opportunities for these talents to thrive and play a vital role in connecting the state's players with national-level experience and a competitive environment.

Mr. Saw stated that the first season of the Chhattisgarh Hockey League will feature six teams representing different regions of the state. These include Rajdhani Royals, Chitrakoot Challengers, Sanskardhani Strikers, Chakradhar Champions, Nyaydhani Knights, and Mainpat Titans. These teams will bring together the state's diverse regional identities and sporting talent.

The league's logo is based on the map of Chhattisgarh. The saffron and green colors represent the spirit of Indianness, while the advancing orange line symbolizes the state's people's continued progress and forward spirit. The league's tagline is "Chalav Re Sangi, Hockey Khelbo." In the Chhattisgarhi dialect, this tagline carries a sense of belonging and invitation, meaning "Come on, friends, let's play hockey."

The league's official mascot is a tiger named "Baghwa." It symbolizes the dense forests and rich wildlife heritage of Chhattisgarh. Baghwa conveys courage, strength, and fearlessness, and represents the players' fighting spirit and desire to dominate on the field.

All six teams in the tournament will play league matches. Based on these matches, the top four teams in the points table will advance to the semi-finals. After the semi-finals, the winning team will be decided in the final. All umpires and technical officials during the matches will be appointed by Hockey India, ensuring technical quality and fairness in the competition.

The Chhattisgarh Hockey League will not be limited to just sports competitions. Special entertainment programs will also be organized daily during the tournament. This will provide spectators with a truly entertaining experience along with exciting hockey matches. Significantly, entry to all league matches will be completely free for spectators. This is expected to draw a large number of sports fans and youth to the stadium.