NEW DELHI: Young striker Akashdeep Singh was the top Indian pick but national team captain Sardar Singh turned out to be damp squib in the Hockey India League auction, which was dominated by Germany’s Moritz Fuerste who drew the highest ever bid in the history of the tournament.
Fuerste, who was a member of the German Team that won the gold medal at 2008 Summer Olympics, 2012 Summer Olympics and 2006 World Cup, was picked by Kalinga Lancers for a whopping USD 105,000 (Rs 69,46, 289) here.
Akashdeep was purchased by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for a whopping USD 84,000 (Rs 55,56, 247), while veteran dragflicker Sandeep Singh and late surprise Gurmail Singh turned out to be second highest money maker for India. Both Sandeep and Gurmail were purchased for identical USD 81,000 (Rs 53,57,578) by Ranchi Rays and Dabang Mumbai respectively.
In fact, Gurmail’s price was a complete surprise as the defender attracted such a huge sum as against his base price of USD 12,000.
Sardar, surprisingly, cut a sorry figure in the auctions as he was bagged for just USD 58,000 against his base price of USD 20,000 by Jaypee Punjab Warriors.
Sardar’s price of USD 58,000 (Rs 38,36,290) turned out to be much less than the amount he garnered in the inaugural edition. He was sold for USD 78,000 to Delhi Waveriders in 2012 before the franchise released him this year.
With the new goal-scoring rule in place in next year’s HIL, where one field goal will count as two, strikers were high in demand but it was never expected that Sardar will drew such a less price. In fact, young and less experienced Indian players like Nikkin Thimmaiah, Gurvinder Singh, Dharamvir Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh drew much higher bids than the ace midfielder.
Besides Fuerste, the other Germans to have drawn the attention of the teams are striker Florian Fuchs, who was picked up by Dabang Mumbai for USD 96,000 (Rs 63,53,336) against his base price of USD 20,000 and midfielder Tobias Hauke who was purchased by Uttar Pradesh Wizards for USD 96,000 (Rs 63,53,336) against his base price of USD 25,000.
After Akashdeep and Sandeep, striker Gurwinder Singh Chandi was the third best Indian, attracting a handsome pay packet of USD 75,000 (Rs 49,63,809) from Jaypee Punjab Warriors against his base price of USD 20,000. Young Indian strikers Mandeep Singh and Nikkin Thimmiah too pocketed huge amount as Delhi Waveriders and Dabang Mumbai shelled out USD 70,000 (Rs 46,30,416) and USD 67,000 (Rs 44,31,496) respectively to have the players in their ranks. (AGENCIES)
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