Sspark Sports & Entertainment has been awarded the mandate by the Chhattisgarh government’s Department of Sports and Youth Welfare to organise and manage the inaugural Chhattisgarh Hockey League (CHL), described as India’s first franchise-based state hockey league. The league will run from October 21 to November 1, 2026, at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Hockey Stadium in Raipur.

Six teams representing different regions of Chhattisgarh will compete in a league format, with the top four going through to the semifinals. A women’s exhibition match will be played on the opening day. The league is sanctioned by Hockey India and aims to give the state’s players more competitive exposure and the chance to play alongside established Indian hockey talent. Player identification and grassroots initiatives are being built into the league as a pathway for Chhattisgarh players.

The CHL was launched in Raipur on August 25, when Deputy Chief Minister and Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Arun Sao unveiled its logo, mascot and tagline, which were designed to connect the league with the state’s sporting and cultural identity.

As event and league management partner, Sspark will handle the league end to end, including franchise acquisition and management, sponsorship and commercial partnerships, marketing, media and public relations, digital and social media, player and team management, venue and match-day operations, production, fan engagement and league administration. It will work with the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Hockey India, Hockey Chhattisgarh, the franchises, players, sponsors and broadcasters.

“Chhattisgarh has a strong hockey culture and a deep pool of talent, and the league will enable us to provide that talent with the right platform, competitive environment, exposure and professional ecosystem required to progress further,” said Rajeev Khanna, Founder and Chairman of Sspark Sports & Entertainment.