It got off with a glitzy opening ceremony, received a scare by protesters and then settled in nicely courtesy a wise decision and some scintillating hockey - the inaugural week of the Hockey India League (HIL) has not been bereft of action.
After Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in the capital set the ball rolling with a laser-lit opening, a few miscreants tried to disrupt the opening encounter between hosts Delhi Waveriders and Punjab Warriors. Reason for the protest was the presence of players from the neighbouring Pakistan, after a recent flare-up between armymen from both sides of the LoC. But Hockey India and Pakistan Hockey Federation's mutual decision to send Pakistan players back home, Delhi on top of the leaderboard and the consistency of Uttar Pradesh Wizards' skipper VR Raghunath's drag flicks has shifted action firmly to the field of play.
Protests by Shiv Sena and Hindu Yuvak Sabha forced the organisers to send nine Pakistan players back home but with assurances of full payments without any participation. That followed Delhi's unbeaten four-match run that has perched them on top of the leaderboard with 17 points earned via three wins and a draw in 10 days of dribbling and dodging, which included a 10-goal thriller that Delhi clinched with a 6-4 scoreline against Mumbai Magicians.
On Delhi's heels are UP with 14 points, also unbeaten - courtesy two wins and two draws, largely due to the performance of Raghunath - justifying his auction price of $76,000. The Indian drag-flicker has scored four goals but his conversion rate has been a lot better than Mumbai skipper Sandeep Singh, who tops the goal-scoring chart with five goals. Sandeep's PC conversion, however, has been far below when compared to Raghunath. It has multiplied Mumbai's problems as four of the nine Pakistan players asked to return were bought by them. That has reflected in their performance - four defeats in four matches and last place on the leaderboard with four points (a defeat by two or less number of goals fetches the losing team one point).
Ranchi Rhinos, led by 2012 FIH Player of the Year Moritz Fuerste of Germany, have been the third most impressive team - currently on third spot with 11 points after two wins and a loss to UP Wizards.
Punjab Warriors have been the biggest disappointment of the tournament in the first week, even though they have come back a wee bit by beating Mumbai and holding UP to a draw after losing three matches on the trot. That has helped them reach 10 points - reducing the gap between themselves and leaders Delhi (17 points) while leaving Mumbai (4 points) further behind at the bottom. But the start must have hurt a team that is led by Australian star Jamie Dwyer and has the likes of SV Sunil and Shivendra Singh in the ranks. But skipper Dwyer - having scored two goals and getting a win under his belt - looks to have a settled unit now to climb up the points table.
Attendance at the venues has been encouraging, especially with efforts like one by Delhi owners the Wave Group, who are offering complimentary tickets to their home games. If the trend continues, the semi-finals and the finals in Ranchi - though a fair bit away - should see close to full stadiums.
But the concrete incentive for India from the HIL remains the performance of their young players, who have the junior World Cup coming up later this year. Their performance is being closely watched by national coach Michael Nobbs. "I hope to get 6 or 7 young players form the HIL and junior World Cup, who can be groomed for the Rio Olympics in 2016."
The HIL has so far promised that and hope it meets that objective before the first edition ends.
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