The first league will include players from the Middle East, South East, Europe, and Africa, with a total of six clubs taking part.
India will host the first-ever professional Women’s Handball League (WHL) in South Asia, which will be a historic event. Notable players from the Middle East, South East, Europe, and Africa will compete in the WHL. Under the direction of the Handball Association of India and with backing from the Asian and South Asian Handball Federations, the innovative league is run by official licensee holder Pavna Sports Venture.
The league, which has six teams registered for the first competition, intends to revolutionize women’s handball in India by giving players a new and exciting platform to display their abilities as well as a means of developing future champions in the sport.
Sports fans across the nation can expect a display of top-notch handball action thanks to the league’s increased diversity and competitiveness brought about by the addition of players from around the world.
Mr. Anandeshwar Pandey, Secretary General of the South Asian Handball Federation and League Chairman of the Handball Association of India, commented on the revolutionary league’s announcement during the press conference, saying, “We are proud to be part of this historic moment as we launch India’s first Women’s Handball League.”
This league is a major advancement in our goal of developing women’s handball throughout the nation. Our goal is to improve women’s handball in India by collaborating with Pavna Sports Venture and Asian and worldwide organizations, and to give our athletes access to top-tier competition venues. This league ushers in a new era for women’s sports in our nation and for women’s handball specifically.”
The Indian Girls Handball squad made history last year when they won the Gold Medal in the Asian Junior Girls Championship and advanced to the World Championship. The squad also won the renowned “Asian Presidents Cup” title for the first time in Jordan.
The Indian women’s handball team placed fifth in the rankings for the 2022 Asian Games.
Over the next three years, Pavna Sports Venture plans to invest a significant sum of money—more than INR 100 crores—into the sport with a particular emphasis on developing grassroots coaching facilities, talent spotting, and infrastructure development.
As a vital component of its grassroots development initiatives with the international federations, the WHL also intends to incorporate foreign exchange programs. This will give players a comprehensive development platform that will give them the exposure and experience they need to become well-known players both nationally and internationally.
As a corporate organization, Pavna Sports Venture is a fervent supporter of women’s sports empowerment, as we feel that athletics can serve as a valuable tool for personal development on many levels. The Women’s Handball League was created with the intention of closing current disparities in women’s sports in India as well as in handball. Our main objective is to create a welcoming environment that will enable women’s handball to flourish and take the lead in India’s women’s sports leagues. We also hope to inspire and encourage millions of women across the nation to take up sports by giving the New Generation Women a platform to attain financial, mental, physical, and emotional independence through this league.
As the fastest Olympic sport, handball is played between two teams of seven players each who pass the ball with their hands in an attempt to toss it into the goal of the other team.
A typical match consists of two 30-minute halves, with the winning team being the one with the most goals at the conclusion of the contest.
Over 300,000 girls and women play women’s handball at different levels in India, representing schools, colleges, universities, CISF, CRPF, Railways, Services Sports Control Board (Army, Navy, Air Force), Sports Authority of India, Sports Promotion Board, and more. Women’s handball in India has been increasing.
