German players, led by ace playmaker Moritz Fuerste, stole the show at the second Hockey India League (HIL) auction held at a five-star hotel here on Thursday.
Two-time Olympic champion Fuerste, breaking the $100,000-mark, was sold for $105,000 to Kalinga Lancers from a base price of $30,000.
Franchises Delhi Waveriders and Uttar Pradesh Wizards were leading the race in securing the midfielder. The Lancers entered the race much later, when the bid was in $90,000s, to steal the 2006 World Cup-winner for the highest price of the morning, which none of the other bidders could match.
Fuerste's compatriots Florian Fuchs and Tobias Hauke were both sold for the second highest price -- $96,000 to Dabang Mumbai and Wizards, respectively. While defender Hauke had a base price of $25,000, striker Fuchs was based $5,000 below.
Earlier, the Lancers, Wizards and Dabang Mumbai were in the fight to secure the 23-year-old Fuchs but Lancers soon pulled out, leaving only Wizards and Mumbai in the race. Eventually, Dabang Mumbai beat the Wizards to claim the German.
Talented forward Akashdeep Singh proved to be the costliest Indian, selling for $84,000 to the Wizards from a base price of $20,000 while ace drag flicker Sandeep Singh was sold to Ranchi Rays for $81,000.
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Striker Mandeep Singh was sold to Waveriders for $70,000 while drag flicker Rupinder Pal Singh went to the Waveriders for $68,000. Jasjit Singh Kular was sold to Jaypee Punjab Warriors for $65,000 while midfielder Dharamvir Singh sold for $60,000 to Kalinga Lancers.
India captain Sardar Singh, with a base price of $20,000, could only manage $58,000 and was sold to Jaypee Punjab Warriors. Lancers and Punjab fought for his bid while Australian midfielder Kieran Govers was sold to Mumbai for $36,000.
Australian playmaker Matthew Swann went to Mumbai for $75,000.
Forward Parvinder Singh proved to be the surprise package, going to Delhi Waveriders for $29,000 from a base of $6,000. Defender Amit Rohidas went to Lancers for $31,000.
Govers' compatriot Flynn Ogilvie was sold for his base price of $10,000 while India's Vikramjit Singh was sold for his base price of $4,500 to Ranchi Rays.
--Indo-Asian New Service
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