New Delhi: Hockey India League today announced that the Ranchi franchise would be taken up by the Patel-Uniexcel Group, making it the third of the six franchisees who will compete in the prestigious event to be held every year from January 2013. Sahara India and Jaypee Group are the franchisees for Lucknow and Punjab.
“We are pleased to welcome the Patel-Unixcel Group on board,” said Hockey India Secretary-General and Hockey India League Chairman Dr Narendra Batra. “We are sure that the Bangalore-based Patel Group and the Chinese Taipei-based Unixcel Group will provide a fantastic impetus to hockey in the region, which is a major nursery for the sport.”
Speaking for the Joint Venture, Uniexcel Group Chairman Suresh Kumar Chauhan said the Patel-Uniexcel Group was delighted to be making an entry into the Indian sports firmament through hockey. “There could have been no better way to get in to sport than with a sport that has emotional connect with all of India,” he said. “I am very delighted that we have got the Ranchi franchise as I come from Kolkata and always carry very strong feelings for eastern India.”
The Franchise CEO Banti Singh who hails from Kolkata and an ex-national hockey player said the Group is looking forward to developing a competitive team and contributing to the evolution of the sport in the region in particular and India in general."
The Uniexcel Group covers international trading across the globe in a diverse range of commodities and industrial raw materials. It also has manufacturing facilities in India, China, Nigeria and Ghana. It is also setting up a state-of-the art fabric coating factory worth Rs 300 crore.
Speaking for the Patel Group, Patel & Partner Managing Vikram Jain said the Group was excited to be entering the world of sport. “We want to contribute in our own way for the sport to catch the imagination of the Indians again,” he said. The Patel Group is among the leading transport companies in India and has been importing raw silk yarn and silk fabrics from China Regards.
By Indian Sports News Network
