The SG Sports, led by APL Apollo, has announced the acquisition of the Tennis Premier League (TPL) team, Bengaluru Spartans.
Following the development, the Bengaluru-based tennis franchise has been renamed to Bengaluru SG Mavericks, which will be competing in the 2023 edition of TPL. The Indian tennis legend, Sania Mirza will be helming the role of brand ambassador for the team.
Speaking on the new venture, Sanjay Gupta, CMD, APL Apollo Tubes Ltd, said, “This is a great opportunity for our company to associate with the spirit of sports that teaches us the most valuable lessons in life. We look forward to this association with Bengaluru Spartans which is Bengaluru SG Mavericks now and wish each player ahead of the trailblazing contest to be held in December this year. It is an also amazing start with this league sport that has been gaining more and more popularity in India. It will be great to witness that the new talent will rub shoulders with some of the most versatile tennis players in the world. Overall, it is a great moment to associate the name of the brand with a sport that is popular worldwide.”
Sania Mirza, Brand Ambassador of Bengaluru SG Mavericks, stated, “I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting venture and obliged to SG Sports for choosing me as their brand ambassador. As a former tennis player and woman, I feel that India has a lot of potential in terms of sports and tennis has seen more and more interest from our young generation recently. Still, there are miles to go before we shine on the world stage in this sport and Tennis Premier League provides a brilliant opportunity for young and upcoming players to prove their mettle on the court. SG Sports is doing a great job in supporting such budding players and giving them an ideal platform where they can compete with top players and learn from their skills.”
APL Apollo is the leading brand of structural steel tubes in the domestic market, with a 55% market share. In India, APL Apollo has a long history of supporting sports. It was the principal sponsor of Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for three years in a row. Sanjay Gupta, the company’s CMD, is an avid sports lover who recognises sports’ enormous potential in India’s near future. SG Sports aims to transform the sports market by providing prospective players with a stable platform to thrive. Through branding activities and international exposure, the company helps maximise the potential of Indian sports.
The fifth season of the premier tennis league in India is all set to take place in December, with eight franchises – Bengal Wizards, Mumbai Leon Army, Punjab Tigers, Pune Jaguars, Bengaluru SG Mavericks, Delhi Binny’s Brigade, Hyderabad Strikers and Gujarat Panthers – will be competing against each other, with all the games happening at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune.