Doordarshan, the public broadcaster, has obtained the rights to telecast the 20th Asian Women’s Handball Championship (AWHC) for the first time, which is set to be held from December 3 to 10, 2024, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.
This highly regarded event, presented by the World Handball League (WHL) and organised by the Asian Handball Federation, will include a number of Asia’s best teams, such as 16-time champion South Korea, Japan, China, and Kazakhstan, competing for continental glory and qualification to the 2025 IHF World Women’s Handball Championship in Germany and the Netherlands.
Through its collaboration with Doordarshan, the WHL hopes to make handball a popular sport in India. WHL aims to expose the sport to millions of fans nationwide by airing the tournament on Doordarshan’s vast network. Through the provision of exclusive content, the partnership will pique interest and create a new community of Indian handball fans.
Notably, DD Broadcast will also feature live coverage on finals day as well as highlights, which will be shown throughout prime time. In addition, SportCast India’s YouTube account will provide live streaming for the games.
Swapnil Jain, Managing Director of Pavna Group and Co-Promoter of WHL, said, “This is a defining moment in the history of Indian women’s handball and a significant step toward transforming the sport in the country. As India takes the global stage with the 2024 Asian Women’s Handball Championship, it showcases not only our growing ability but also our commitment to nurturing the sport’s grassroots development. Doordarshan’s grassroots approach will take handball to where it truly matters, the streets, the communities, and the people. Our goal is to make every child in India dream of stepping onto the handball court and envisioning a future in this sport.”
India’s hosting of the championship also represents the country’s growing worldwide profile. Handball’s launch on this scale seeks to motivate young athletes, particularly women, to pursue careers in sports, while companies and organisations may partner with this transforming path. The league, in conjunction with Doordarshan, aims to leave a legacy that will last beyond the event, setting the groundwork for handball’s growth and appeal across the country.
In addition to Doordarshan, the 20th Asian Women’s Handball Championships will be backed by Pavna International School as Knowledge Partner, Golden Eagles as Empowered By Partner, and Kolkata Thunder Strikers as Energised By Partner, demonstrating an extensive partnership to advance the sport and its increasing appeal.
In recent times, DD also acquired broadcast rights for the sixth edition of the professional field hockey league in India, the Hockey India League (HIL), which is set to begin on December 28, 2024.