In the women’s Hockey India League auction, Argentina players were expected to dominate and it panned out just that way on Wednesday. From the world No 2 Las Leonas, star dragflicker Agustina Gorzelany was signed by Bengal Tigers for Rs 42 Lakhs while her teammates Granatto Maria Jose and Valentina Raposo went to JSW Soorma Hockey Club for Rs 34 Lakhs and Bengal Tigers for Rs 30 Lakhs. Among Indians, Monika – who was unsold before last edition – became the costliest home player of the auction, also going to Bengal Tigers for Rs 15 Lakhs. Udita, last edition’s most expensive player, went to Delhi SG Pipers for Rs 10 lakh.
With a salary cap of Rs 2 Crores, the participating franchises — JSW Soorma Hockey Club, Ranchi Royals, SG Pipers, and Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers — built well-rounded squads featuring international stars alongside India’s brightest young talent.
Top three buys of the Women’s HIL mini auction
• Agustina Gorzelany – signed by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for Rs 42 Lakhs
• Granatto Maria Jose – signed by JSW Soorma Hockey Club for Rs 34 Lakhs
• Valentina Raposo Ruiz de los Llanos – signed by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for Rs 30 Lakhs
Other highlights:
• María José Granatto (Argentina forward): Another marquee Argentine star, Granatto was picked up by Delhi SG Pipers for Rs 34 Lakhs, after overcoming competition from JSW Soorma Hockey Club and Ranchi Royals.
• Valentina Raposo Ruiz de los Llanos (Argentina defender): Emerged as one of the hottest properties in the pool, eventually signed by Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for Rs 30 Lakhs after a multi-franchise bidding war.
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• Mahima Tete (India midfielder): The young midfielder will now team up with her sister Salima Tete at JSW Soorma Hockey Club, after being secured for her base price of Rs 2 Lakhs.
Final squads of all women’s franchises:
JSW Soorma Hockey Club: Retained – Ajmina Kujur, Jyoti Chhatri (Jr Player – Traded from Ranchi Royals), Mumtaz Khan (Traded from SG Pipers), Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke (Jr Player), Hina Bano (Jr Player), Sonam (Jr Player), Penny Squibb (Overseas), Jimena Maria Cedres (Overseas), Olivia Shannon (Overseas), Savita, Nidhi, Baljeet Kaur, Jyoti, Nisha, Salima Tete.
New buys – Mahima Tete (Rs 2 Lakh), Granatto Maria Jose (Rs 34 Lakhs), Vilar Del Dupuy (Rs 2 Lakh), Shihori Oikawa (Rs 5 Lakh), Sarah Robertson (Rs 10 Lakh).
Ranchi Royals: Retained – Nandni, Sakshi Rana (Jr Player), Kanika Siwach (Jr Player), Nikki Pradhan (Traded from JSW Soorma Hockey Club), Deepika Soreng (Jr Player – Traded from JSW Soorma Hockey Club), Ishika Chaudhary, Neha Goyal, Rutaja Dadaso Pisal, Beauty DungDung (Traded from Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers), Sangita Kumari (Traded from SG Pipers), Jocelyn Bartram (Overseas), Claire Colwil (Overseas).
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New buys – Lucina Von Der Heyde (Rs 14 Lakhs), Agustina Albertarrio (Rs 15 Lakhs), Agostina Alonso (Rs 15 Lakhs), Lalthantluangi (Rs 3.10 Lakh), Maria Paula Ortiz (Rs 10 Lakhs), Annu (Rs 2 Lakh), Valerie Magis (Rs 5 Lakh), Bichu Devi (Rs 9.8 Lakh)
SG Pipers: Retained – Shilpi Dabas (Traded from Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers), Sharmila Devi (Traded from JSW Soorma Hockey Club), Jyoti Singh (Jr Player), Manisha (Jr Player), Sunelita Toppo (Jr Player), Deepika (Jr Player), Bansari Solanki, Khaidem Shileima Chanu, Navneet Kaur, Ishika, Kaitlin Jaye Nobbs (Overseas – Traded from Ranchi Royals), Victoria Sauze (Overseas – Traded from Ranchi Royals).
New buys – Udita (Rs 10 Lakhs), Thoudam Suman Devi (Rs 5 Lakh), Cristina Cosentino (Rs 5 Lakh), Costa Biondi Valentina Isabel (Rs 10 Lakhs), Lola Riera Zuzuarregui (Rs 21 Lakhs), Teresa Viana Ache (Rs 11 Lakhs), Preeti Dubey (Rs 2 Lakh), Juana Castellaro Morello (Rs 12.50 Lakhs).
Shrachi Bengal Tigers: Retained – Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalrinpuii Pachuav (Jr Player), Manisha Chauhan (Traded from SG Pipers), Jennifer Rizzo (Overseas), Mahima Choudhary, Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Sonika (Traded from Ranchi Royals).
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New buys – Monika (Rs 15 Lakhs), Gurjit Kaur (Rs 2 Lakh), Puja Sahoo (Rs 2 Lakh), Agustina Gorzelany (Rs 42 Lakhs), Valentina Raposo Ruiz de los Llanos (Rs 30 Lakhs), Victoria Manuele (Rs 2 Lakh), Emma Findlay (Rs 5 Lakh), Puja Sahoo (Rs 2 Lakh), Noor Orpa de Baat (Rs 14 Lakhs), Sukhveer Kaur (Rs 2 Lakh), Anjali Gautam (Rs 2 Lakh), Sosha Carina Benninga (Rs 5 Lakh).