After cricket, football, badminton and kabaddi, handball is the latest to join the commercialisation of sport in India. Premier Handball League (PHL) will be starting on Christmas eve in India. The tournament will take place from the 24th of December to the 10th of January.
In the 18 day season set to be held from the end of the year to the beginning of the new one, 33 matches will be played. Over 80 players will feature in the inaugural handball tournament, and each team will consist of 14 players at the very least.
The SIX franchises that will feature in the campaign are:
- Telangana Tigers
- UP Icons
- Maharashtra Handball Hustlers
- KingHawks Rajasthan
- Bengal Blues
- Punjab Pitbulls
The matches will be broadcasted on Sony Pictures Sports Network channels, such as Sony Ten1, Ten2, Ten3 and Sony Six. It is also stipulated that the matches will be streamed on their streaming platform, Sony LIV as well.
The Handball Federation of India, under whom there are over 80,000 players officially registered, will be watching over the tournament.
“This is going to be a significant moment in Indian handball history as the PHL will infuse fresh air to the sport which has immense potential at grassroot level,” HFI President Jagan Mohan Rao said at the launch of the PHL.
“The league will bring exciting competition among the players as well as help build handball as a brand.”
“We have close to 80000 registered players playing the game in India. India is looked at as the next big thing by the international federation in terms of talent and opportunities. I feel PHL has come at the right time,” said HFI Vice President Anandeshwar Pandey.
The matches will be played at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Due to the COVID situation, the matches will most likely be held without spectators and will be broadcasted only.
