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Tag: Pavna Sports Venture

  • India wins bronze at Asian Women’s Club League Handball Championship

    India wins bronze at Asian Women’s Club League Handball Championship

    Mumbai: Golden Eagles Bharat Club secured third place at the seventh Asian Women’s Club League Handball Championship, defeating Uzbekistan’s Uzbechka HC in a penalty shootout at the Dostyk Universal Sports Complex in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

    Captain Menica Thakur’s penalty sealed a three-two shootout win after a 22-22 draw. Priyanka’s last-second equalizer forced the game into penalties, marking the second consecutive year an Indian club finished on the podium.

    “This victory means a lot to us and reflects how far Indian handball has come. The sport is growing, and we’re starting to see what’s possible with the right effort and support. I’m proud to be part of this team and excited for what the future holds for Indian handball,” said Menica, whose performances earned her a spot in the tournament’s all-star team.

    As the Golden Eagles Bharat Women’s Team competed in Almaty, 1700 kilometers away in Aligarh, the next batch of hand-picked handball talents was hard at work at the Golden Eagles Centre of Excellence – Handball. Pavna Industries has recognised India’s untapped handball potential and is supporting its development through the Pavna Sports Venture and the Golden Eagles Centre of Excellence.

    So far, academy players have partaken in International Handball Federation events and the Youth World Championships, showing clear evidence of the program’s progress.

    “The Golden Eagles’ victory is a testament to the incredible potential of handball in India, a sport we are deeply committed to developing from the grassroots to the international stage. Our focus on women’s development is central to this mission, as we aim to create a balanced and thriving sporting culture that inspires generations to come. With every success, we’re showcasing the potential of Indian athletes on the global stage and paving the way for future champions.” explained Pavna Industries executive director and Pavna Sports Venture chairperson Priya Jain.

    The Golden Eagles Centre of Excellence – Handball trains 40 selected athletes to become elite handball players while supporting their overall development. The enrollees learn tactics, refine their skills, and develop core values on the field while continuing their education at the adjacent DPS School.

    Priyanka said: “It is an amazing place. The facilities here are top-notch, and we get everything we need to improve our game. The competition here is really tough, and that pushes us to get better every day. But it’s not just about handball—they make sure we’re taken care of in every way, from our training to our education. We’re taught to work hard on the court and in school, and that really helps us grow as players and as people.”

    The goal is to create a talent pipeline that begins at the Golden Eagles Centre of Excellence – Handball in Aligarh, progresses through domestic leagues, advances to international competitions, and ultimately produces Olympic-level athletes. With a strong focus on grassroots development, the Pavna-led handball initiative continues to grow quietly, with no limits on its potential.

  • Women’s Handball League secures multi-year sponsorship deal with Nivia Sports

    Women’s Handball League secures multi-year sponsorship deal with Nivia Sports

    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, which is scheduled to take place in January 2025.

    As Southeast Asia’s first-ever groundbreaking women’s handball league, it will feature prominent 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.

    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, have already committed a substantial investment over the next three years to focus on talent identification, infrastructure development, and the creation of top-notch 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 Pavna Industries executive director &  Pavna Sports Venture chairperson Priya Jain

    Nivia Sports, a renowned leader in the sports equipment sector with over 30 years of experience, is committed to producing 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,” added  Nivia managing director Rajesh Kharabanda the official ball partner of India’s top football league and holder of 70 per cent 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 Program.” 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 the sport more accessible, with special emphasis on advancing women’s handball in the country.

  • Pavna Sports venture launches South Asia’s Women’s Handball League in India

    Pavna Sports venture launches South Asia’s Women’s Handball League in India

    Mumbai: Pavna Sports Venture have announced the launch of South Asia’s inaugural professional Women’s Handball League (WHL) in India and will be making a significant investment of Rs 100 crores which will be strategically allocated over the next three years to drive revolutionary grassroots development of the sport in India.

    The WHL will be organised under the auspices of the South Asian Handball Federation, the Asian Handball Federation, and supported by the Handball Association of India.

    As the official licensee holders, Pavna Sports Venture also plans to integrate foreign exchange programs as a crucial part of its grassroots development initiatives to provide a holistic development platform for Indian women players wherein the necessary exposure and experiences will be provided to make their name in the sport both in India and globally.

    Pavna Sports Venture executive director of Pavna Industries & chairperson Priya Jain shared the plans in detail during the press conference of the league announcement, “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 crores will contribute to establishing an inclusive ecosystem that empowers women’s handballs 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 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.

    With six teams set to compete in the inaugural edition, the league will feature prominent players from the Middle East, South East, Europe, and Africa who will enhance the league’s diversity and competitiveness to create a spectacle of best-in-class Handball action for fans across the country.

    “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 Handball Association of India & Secretary General of South Asian Handball Federation league chairman Anandeshwar Pandey.

    Women’s handball in India has been on the rise with over 300,000 girls and women actively engaging in handball across various levels in India, representing schools, colleges, universities, CISF, CRPF, Railways, Services Sports Control Board (Army, Navy, Airforce), Sports Authority of India, Sports Promotion Board, and more.

    The WHL promises to be a game-changer for women’s handball in India by not only providing a transformative platform for players to showcase their skills but also creating future champions.