The Punit Balan Group (PBG) has confirmed its participation in the upcoming second season of the World Tennis League (WTL), strengthening its athletic portfolio and establishing a footprint on the international sporting landscape.
The world’s top 16 tennis players will participate in a one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment spectacular at Yas Island’s Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi from December 21 to 24, 2023.
Daniil Medvedev, the world’s third-ranked tennis player, will serve as the captain of the Punit Balan-owned side, PBG Eagles. The Indian team will now be represented by a strong roster that also includes World No. 5 Andrey Rublev.
Punit Balan, Chairman & Managing Director of the Punit Balan Group, said, “We are thrilled to be a part of the World Tennis League, marking a significant stride in Punit Balan Group’s dedication to creating a global sports property. With some of the world’s most exceptional tennis talents already part of our franchise, we are eagerly anticipating a season filled with unmatched and thrilling tennis action. Much like our successes in other sporting disciplines, we aim to put up quality competition and clinch the championship title.”
The Punit Balan Group has previously made investments in nine teams in various Indian sports divisions.
Punit Balan Group supports almost 60 aspiring athletes throughout India in addition to owning teams in all of the country’s major sports leagues, such as the Premier Handball League (PHL), Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT), Ultimate Kho Kho (UKK), Tennis Premier League (TPL), Premier Badminton League, Pro Panja League (PPL), and Global Chess League (GCL). And now, with this new addition, Punit Balan Group’s presence and devotion in the sports world continue to have significant influence and growth.
Rajesh Banga, Chairman of World Tennis League, said, “We extend a warm welcome to Punit Balan Group as they join the World Tennis League family. Their dedication to the growth and promotion of sports aligns with our mission and promises to elevate the level of competition as well as make the season a truly world-class tennis event of the year.”
On the development, Medvedev said, “After seeing what the players experienced last year, I’m delighted to be joining for this season of the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi. I’ve played several times in the UAE and always enjoy coming back, and I’m aiming to finish this year on a positive note there.”
The WTL will use an exciting system in which players will be split into four teams, with two games planned for every single day from the first to the third day, encompassing men’s and women’s singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles. On December 24, the top two teams will compete for the prestigious title.
The event, labelled as the ‘Greatest Show on Court,’ will be aired across more than 125 nations and will include women’s World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Australian Open 2023 finalist Stefano Tsitsipas, and four-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek.