German Stars sign up for Hockey India League

New Delhi: Experienced mid-fielders Mortiz Fuerste and Oliver Korn are among the players from Olympic champions Germany who have signed up for the players' auction to be held next month in the run up to the six-team Hockey India League (HIL) that will begin on January 5.

Striker Deecke Oskar and goal-keeper Jacobi Nicolas, both members of the 2012 Olympic gold medal winning team, are the other prominent names from Germany. Hockey India (HI) secretary general and HIL chairman Narinder Batra said the eagerness of quality players to showcase their skills was a confirmation that HIL would become a sought-after event.

"We are overwhelmed by the overseas players' response to the Hockey India League," he said. "The presence of these Germans is only a reflection of the air of excitement and anticipation that is building up around what promises to be the best assembly of players in any league in the world. We are sure that the hockey fraternity not only in India but elsewhere is in for a feast."

Germany's Oliver Korn celebrates after scoring the winning goal in the final of the 2012 Olympics Games in London.

The 27-year-old Fuerste, who has scored 70 goals from 199 matches for Germany, was also part of the team that won the silver medal in the World Cup in New Delhi in 2010 besides being a part of the team that won gold in the Champions Trophy at Kuala Lumpur in 2007. He also has two other Champions Trophy silver medals from 2006 and 2009.

Korn, 28, has scored 26 goals for Germany in 130 matches, winning Champions Trophy in Kuala Lumpur in 2007 and silver in the World Cup in New Delhi 2010 and the Champions Trophy in Melbourne in 2009.

The 26-year-old striker Deecke Oskar was part of teams that won the silver medals in the World Cup in New Delhi in 2010 and Champions Trophy in Melbourne in 2009.

Jacobi Nicolas won the 'Most Valuable Player' award in the Euro Hockey League in 2011 and 2012 besides being the Best Goalkeeper in the German Hockey Championship in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

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