The Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) has announced the first season of the Indian Volleyball League, which will take place later this year.
The proposed Indian Volleyball League will be held on an annual basis, and the VFI will soon announce the application process for new franchise owners.
The national governing body announced the collaboration with Eurosport India, Discovery Network’s premium sports brand.
The IVL, which is expected to begin in June-July 2022, will be the country’s premier volleyball league, sanctioned by both the Asian Volleyball Confederation and the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
The IVL also intends to open six to eight new franchises in various cities across India.
For the inaugural season, the teams’ rosters will include a mix of top players from the Indian national team, promising youngsters from various states, and a slew of the world’s best international players.
Ruchir Jain, Head of Eurosport India and Distribution – South Asia, Discovery, said, “It’s been our constant endeavour to build communities for all sports alike, and now to have volleyball in our roster is a proud moment.”
VFI President, Achyuta Samanta said, “It is a momentous occasion for Indian volleyball, and we are thrilled to have a globally respected brand like Discovery on board with us. We are sure they will help us take the league to places and together we aim to uplift the standard of the sport in the near future as one of the top international volleyball leagues globally.”