Patel-Uniexcel JV takes ownership of HIL's Ranchi franchise

MUMBAI: Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand, has become the third team to compete in the fledging Hockey India League with the joint-venture Patel-Unixcel Group taking the franchise rights.

The Ranchi team will be jointly owned by Bangalore-based Patel Group and the Chinese Taipei-based Unixcel Group. Former national Hockey player Banti Singh, who hails from Kolkata, has been appointed as the CEO of the franchise.

Hockey India-promoted HIL will have six franchisees which will compete in the event to be held every year from January 2013. Earlier, Sahara India and Jaypee Group had taken franchise rights for Lucknow and Punjab teams.

The global broadcast rights for the event are held by ESPN Star Sports.

"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."

Uniexcel Group Chairman Suresh Kumar Chauhan said, "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."