Mumbai: The Women’s Handball League (WHL), promoted by Pavna Sports Venture, announced its partnership with homegrown sports equipment manufacturing giant Nivia Sports as its strategic partner to develop the game in India as well as the official ball, equipment, and kit sponsor in a multi-year deal ahead of the league. It is scheduled to take place in January 2025.
As Southeast Asia’s first-ever women’s handball league, it will feature players from India, along with those from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa. The league, which will be played under the auspices of the South Asian Handball Federation and supported by the Asian Handball Federation, is set to feature six franchise teams in its inaugural edition.
WHL has also launched a nationwide talent hunt ‘future handball champions program’. The aim is to identify young and upcoming players for the League. Nivia will support this initiative as a strategic partner
While this partnership aims to transform the handball landscape in India by creating significant opportunities for athletes and fostering the growth of the sport from grassroots to elite and league levels, specifically for women’s handball, it will also work closely to develop India as a handball hub in the run-up to the 2032 Olympics.
Pavna Sports Venture, the league promoters, will invest over the next three years to focus on talent identification, infrastructure development, and the creation of coaching facilities for the game at the grassroots level. With the help of this partnership, they also aim to identify India’s most talented handball players and extensively enhance the visibility of the game across India.
“This strategic alliance with Nivia Sports will be a major milestone in our quest to position handball as a leading Olympic Sport in India. By partnering with a brand synonymous with excellence, we are set to establish world-class standards that will elevate the Women’s League and the sport as a whole. This collaboration will also enhance the quality of play at every level, from grassroots initiatives to elite competitions, and inspire countless young athletes to embrace handball. Together, we envision a future where handball flourishes as a premier sport, cultivating the next generation of champions,” said Priya Jain, executive director Pavna Industries and chairperson Pavna Sports Venture
Nivia Sports, which offers sports equipment sector with over 30 years of experience, is committed to producing what it calls world-class handballs that are both affordable and durable, while simultaneously elevating the performance of athletes.
This partnership will also help Nivia create new markets across the country as well as the Southeast Asian region. WHL will be a great platform for this homegrown brand to showcase top-class handballs and provide an opportunity for research and development to innovate and market world-class handball products globally, as it has been doing for other sports including football, basketball, and volleyball.
“The Indian Women’s handball team is currently ranked 5th in Asia, and our ambition is to see them reach new heights, with the potential to qualify for the 2032 Olympics. We believe that using top-notch balls, gear, and equipment will significantly boost the sport’s popularity. The Women’s Premier League will be instrumental in this journey. This partnership is more than just a sponsorship; it is a strategic alliance in our mission to elevate handball in India and across Southeast Asia,” said Rajesh Kharabanda, MD Nivia. Ity claims to have a 70% market share in football.
They are also Fifa-certified football manufacturers in India.
As part of multiple initiatives taken up by the Women’s Handball League to promote and develop handball and scouring young and talented Indian players for the upcoming league, WHL has also initiated the ‘Future Handball Champions Programme’. With the help of Nivia, they aim to conduct multiple talent hunt programs across the country to tap and nurture young talents and also aim to make sport more accessible, with special emphasis on advancing women’s handball in the country.
