Pavna Sports Venture Invests Rs 100+ cr to Pioneer South Asia’s Women’s Handball League

Pavna Sports Venture, in a strategic move for women's empowerment through sports, has announced the launch of South Asia’s first Women’s Handball League (WHL) in India. The venture entails a significant investment of Rs 100+ crore over the next three years, aimed at catalyzing groundbreaking grassroots development in Indian women’s handball.

The WHL, sanctioned by the South Asian Handball Federation, the Asian Handball Federation, and backed by the Handball Association of India, is set to be a transformative initiative. Pavna Sports Venture, holding the official license, envisions integrating foreign exchange programs into its grassroots development strategies, fostering comprehensive growth opportunities for Indian women players.

Priya Jain, Executive Director of Pavna Industries and Chairperson of Pavna Sports Venture shared, “As a business group, Pavna Sports Venture is a strong advocate of women empowerment and we believe sports is a crucial tool to facilitate the growth of an individual in many aspects. Our investment of Rs 100 crore 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 are aiming 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.”

The financial commitment is strategically allocated to vital grassroots areas such as infrastructure development, talent identification, and establishing top-tier coaching facilities. Six teams are slated to compete in the inaugural edition, featuring accomplished players from the Middle East, South East, Europe, and Africa, adding diversity and heightened competitiveness to the league.

“We are proud to be part of this historic moment as we launch India's first Women’s Handball League. 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. This league marks the beginning of a new era for women's handball in our nation,” stated Anandeshwar Pandey, League Chairman of Handball Association of India and Secretary General of South Asian Handball Federation.

With over 300,000 girls and women actively participating in handball at various levels in India, the WHL is poised to be a game-changer. Beyond showcasing player skills, the league aspires to mold future champions and elevate the standard of women's handball in the nation.