Pavna Sports Venture has announced the launch of South Asia’s inaugural professional Women’s Handball League (WHL) in India. As per the company, it will be investing more than Rs 100 crores which will be allocated over the next three years to drive grassroots development of the sport in India.
“Our investment of Rs 100 crores will contribute to establishing an inclusive ecosystem that empowers women’s handball to thrive and secure a premium position within women’s sports Leagues in India. Drawing insights from the success trajectories of other sports leagues in the country, we have a long-term vision for the Women’s Handball League and expect it to achieve financial profitability within the next five to six years as per our projections. We aim to launch the league by January 2025 and are focused on creating a self-sustaining model with robust foundations that can prosper without relying on external financial support,” Priya Jain, executive director, Pavna Industries and chairperson, Pavna Sports Venture, said.
As the official licensee holders, Pavna Sports Venture also plans to integrate foreign exchange programs as a part of its grassroots development initiatives to provide a holistic development platform for Indian women players wherein exposure and experiences will be provided.
The financial commitment will play a pivotal role in stimulating key areas at the grassroots level such as infrastructure development, talent identification, and the creation of high-quality coaching facilities. The WHL will be organised under the auspices of the South Asian Handball Federation, and the Asian Handball Federation, and supported by the Handball Association of India.
With six teams set to compete in the inaugural edition, the league will feature players from the Middle East, South East, Europe, and Africa, enhancing the league’s diversity and competitiveness.
“This league is a significant step forward in our mission to promote and develop women’s handball across the country. By joining forces with Pavna Sports Venture and international Handball federations, we aim to elevate the standard of women’s handball in India and provide our athletes with a world-class platform to compete at the highest level,” Anandeshwar Pandey, league chairman, the Handball Association of India and secretary general, South Asian Handball Federation, said.