World Series Hockey prize money on par with IPL

World Series Hockey has announced the highest ever prize money for any hockey event in the world. Infact 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.

The total prize money, in excess of INR 10 Crores (100 Million), is structured in a manner which ensures that there is a tremendous incentive for the teams and players to perform and deliver some of the most scintillating hockey ever on display.

The prize money for the teams are

- Champions : INR 4 Crores (40 Million) – Runners Up : INR 2 Crores (20 Million) – 3rd Place : INR 1 Crore (10 Million) – 4th Place : INR 1 Crore (10 Million)

All WSH franchises have committed to sharing a minimum of 50% of their team winnings with the players, creating a player winning purse of at least INR 4 crores (40 Million) and significantly enhancing the potential of earnings for all the players of the teams who finish in the top 4 spots of the inaugural season of WSH.

In addition to the prize money listed above, there are several individual awards recognizing match winners and stars including:

- WSH Rockstar (Most Valuable Player) : INR 1 Crore (10 Million) – Indian Super Star (Star Indian Player) : INR 50 lakhs (5 Million) – Golden Stick (Highest Goal Scorer) : INR 25 lakhs (2.5 Million) – Game Changer (Best Midfielder, Defender or Goal Keeper) : INR 25 lakhs (2.5 Million) – Rookie of the Year (Best emerging player under 21) : INR 10 lakhs (1 Million)

If an Indian player is adjudged ‘WSH Rockstar’, the award for the “Indian Superstar” will go the next best Indian player. This ensures a player prize purse of a minimum of INR 6 Crores (60 Million) made available to the players of WSH, over and above their contract fees

Yannick Colaco, COO of Nimbus Sport said

“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! By offering the highest prize money and creating an environment where players compete with the best in the world, youngsters can finally look at playing Hockeyas a viable profession.”

The WSH will be held from December 17, 2011 to January 22, 2012 and will involve 200 leading players — Indian and international — who will showcase their talent in 61 matches. It will be a multi-city franchise-based League with players being allocated to the teams based on the internationally accepted and practised ‘draft’ system.

The inaugural edition of the league will comprise eight teams out of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Pune, Bhopal, Punjab, Ranchi and Rourkela.

Hockey players, for the first time, will have a global platform to exhibit their skills for which they will be financially rewarded. The legacy created by the planned upgrading of infrastructure across the country will benefit hockey for generations to come.