HOCKEY
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The victory may have been priceless for Australian hockey, but Kieran Govers now has an idea of just how much his Champions Trophy winner is worth.
Watching on YouTube as the inaugural Hockey India League auction unfolded late on Sunday night and early into yesterday morning, the Kookaburras' man-of-the-moment was stunned when his price tag finally reached $US41,000 ($38,220).
He will join teammates Mark Knowles ($US57,000) and Jamie Dwyer ($US60,000) at the Punjab Warriors, where they will be coached by 2004 gold medal Olympic coach Barry Dancer.
"I got quite a few texts about it," Govers said.
"Everyone was saying that goal probably doubled my price.
"I was sitting on about $20,000 for a while and it's strange, you're looking at the computer screen thinking 'someone bid for me'.
"It was good though, there were a few teams interested and it looks like Punjab will have a pretty good team.
"I'm excited about going over to play in it."
There will be five franchises in the league, with the month-long competition starting on January 17.
While the budgets are significantly smaller than in Indian Premier League cricket, on which the competition is modelled, it will be the biggest single pay day for many of the Australian squad, including Govers.
Eddie Ockenden reached $US65,000 as he was secured by the Uttar Pradesh Wizards.
Govers is hopeful the Indian competition will grow, so the Australian squad can spend more time playing and helping to grow the sport at home each year, rather than travelling the world to earn a living.
In a hectic start to 2013, Govers will travel to India, before flying to the Netherlands to complete the Dutch season with Den Bosch.
The 24-year-old scored two goals in Australia's bronze medal-winning London Olympic campaign, before hitting a stunning back stick shot to seal the Champions Trophy final against the Netherlands in Melbourne last week.
The Albion Park junior last travelled to India for the 2010 World Cup, where the Australian team was in lockdown because of a terrorism alert.
"Hopefully I'll be able to see a bit more of the country while I'm over there this time," he said.