Coach altenburg

Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium: With an impressive mix of players in their line-up, the Kalinga Lancers start among the favourites for the Hockey India League 2024-25, currently underway, and German coach Valentin Altenburg wants to create a unique 'playing style and identity' for the team.

Defending champions of the last HIL held seven years ago, the Lancers open the new season in the eight-team competition against UP Rudras at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium on Monday in their spiritual home of Odisha.

Experienced Australian midfielder Aran Zalewski will captain the side that features the likes of Dutch star Thierry Brinkman, gold medallist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Belgium’s world-class drag-flicker Alexander Hendrickx, alongside rising Indian talents such as goalkeeper Krishan Pathak, midfielder Rosan Kujur, and defender Sanjay to name a few.