Category: Prime Volleyball League

by Abhishek Shukla

Calicut Heroes beat Bengaluru Torpedoes in thrilling Super 5s contest

Chennai, March 14th, 2024: Calicut Heroes returned to winning ways in the Super 5s stage of the third season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, defeating the Bengaluru Torpedoes 18-16, 16-14, 8-15, 11-15, 15-10 in an action-packed encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai on Thursday. Jerome Vinith was named the Player of the Match.

Back to his best form, Danial became central to Calicut’s attacks. Jishnu’s monster block on Chirag Yadav helped Bengaluru to keep the scores level. Jerome’s fiery spikes gave Calicut momentum while Ibin’s solid attacks kept the Torpedoes at a close distance. A sensational review call gave Calicut a crucial point to inch ahead.

Sensational Sethu returned to his best with aggressive serves, and built pressure from the base line. Calicut gave away freebies with unforced errors, shifting the momentum Bengaluru’s way. Calicut’s super point win closed the gap before Jerome’s attacks again edged Calicut ahead. Key errors in attack and Danial’s explosive tap gave Calicut control of the game.

Jishnu’s consecutive blocks left Calicut attackers shackled. Heptinstall kept attacking from Zone 2 as the Torpedoes opened the doors for a comeback. Sethu’s dominance with serves continued while Paulo’s sensational passing kept Calicut guessing the source of Bengaluru’s attack. A wayward serve from Calicut helped the Torpedoes push the match to fifth set.

Jerome started firing again in the final set, while Ukkrapandian smashed an ace serve to edge Calicut ahead. Substitute Ashok Bishnoi’s magical play from the service line rattled the Torpedoes defence. Coach David Lee called for a Super Point as a last-ditch effort to get back, but an error from Heptinstall proved costly, leading Calicut to an important win.



Watch the LIVE coverage of RuPay Prime Volleyball League Season 3 from 15th February 2024, 6:30 PM onwards, only on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD & HD (Tamil & Telugu).

by Abhishek Shukla

Ahmedabad Defenders dethrone Mumbai Meteors from top with thrilling win

Chennai, March 1st, 2024: Ahmedabad Defenders picked up a thrilling 15-12, 15-11, 14-16, 13-15, 15-13 win over the Mumbai Meteors in the third season of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 on Friday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai. Nandhagopal was named the Player of the Match.

Nandha’s attacks posed a challenge for Mumbai as skipper Muthusamy Appavu kept setting up the attacker with solid passes. LM Manoj contributed from the middle, despite Shameem’s towering presence. Amit Gulia kept chipping away points, but Max Senica’s pipe attack helped Ahmedabad take the lead.

Manoj blocked the Mumbai attackers. Ilya Burau added another edge to Ahmedabad’s defence as the defending champions showed impeccable tactical play. A couple of unforced errors created a chance for the Meteors, but a crucial super point win allowed the Defenders to take control. Ajith Lal’s struggles with service continued throughout the night, hurting Mumbai. 

Nandha’s rocket serve rattled the Meteors, but Shubham replied with a thunderous spike. Saurabh Maan’s gutsy showing from the middle allowed the Meteors to find a way back into the contest, while Shameem found ways to close down Nandha. Shameem started to win the battle of the middles and the Meteors pushed the game to a final set.

Jerry Daniel came off the bench and delivered the goods in the serves, putting pressure on the opposition. But a super point win in clutch moments changed momentum and Shikhar Singh repaid coach Dragan Mihailovic’s faith by making key blocks in the final few minutes. Nandha closed out the game with a super serve and the Defenders won the match.



Watch the LIVE coverage of RuPay Prime Volleyball League Season 3 from 15th February 2024, 6:30 PM onwards, only on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD & HD (Tamil & Telugu).

by Abhishek Shukla

Mumbai Meteors beat newbies Delhi Toofans in five-set thriller

Chennai, February 16th, 2024: Mumbai Meteors began their campaign with a thrilling 15-13, 17-15, 13-15, 13-15, 17-15 win over the Delhi Toofans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai to kickstart their campaign with 3 points in the third season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23. Shubham Chaudhary was named the Player of the Match.

If Toofans had any nerves playing their first game, it did not show. Attempting to build pressure from the service, both teams made early errors. Delhi’s Lazar Dodic and Anu James started racking up points with powerful spikes from the outside lines. But Shubham Chaudhary’s risky endeavour to go long on serve paid off with a super serve and Mumbai Meteors took control. 

As Delhi began attempting to claw back, Saurabh Maan’s monster blocks sealed the doors. Anu’s pipe attacks presented a new challenge for Mumbai, but with Shubham’s all-round showing, the puzzle was solved. Daniel Aponza’s timely blocks and fiery spikes from Santosh and Anu James gave Delhi an opening back. 

Aponza’s strong all-round showing and Mumbai’s serve errors shifted the momentum in the favour of newbies, pushing the game to the final set. Delhi’s aggressive serves troubled Mumbai. But a bold move to call a late super point paid off for Mumbai and Amit Gulia sealed the deal for his side with a Super Serve.

Following the success of the first two seasons, the third season of the ‘Asli Entertainer’ RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 will be aired on Sony Sports Network in five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Fans can anticipate another thrilling season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 and experience the excitement of top-tier teams battle it out on the volleyball court starting 15th February 2024, 6:30 PM onwards, Live on Sony Sports Network and will be available to livestream on SonyLiv.

by Abhishek Shukla

Bengaluru Torpedoes reign supreme over Kolkata Thunderbolts in first game of season

Chennai, February 15th, 2024: Bengaluru Torpedoes began their campaign in the third season of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 with a 16-14, 14-16, 15-13, 15-10 win over the Kolkata Thunderbolts at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on Thursday. Thomas Heptinstall was named Player of the Match. 

Rahul delivered his super serve special as Kolkata took early control. Skipper Ashwal Rai joined the party and Bengaluru found little answers for Kolkata’s aggressive serves. But coach David Lee showcased his tactical mindset, switching play to Srajan, who brought Bengaluru back with powerful serves. Showcasing his magic along the lines, Heptinstall nudged Torpedoes marginally ahead. 

Kolkata turned to Vinit Rai, who served up solid gameplay to turn the tables again. The passing from Kolkata improved as the game went on, while Torpedoes hurt themselves with unforced errors. The topsy-turvy battle turned into contest between the outside hitters with Vinit going against Heptinstall. 

Coach David’s high-risk, high-reward strategy paid rewards as Heptinstall made the most of his height advantage, splitting the gap between two Kolkata blockers. Vinit continued to remain a threat in Kolkata’s corner, despite blockers Srajan and Mujeeb trying to block attacks from the middle. Onur Cukur added more spark to Kolkata’s attacks with brilliant passing. But Torpedoes maintained their discipline in defence, and with a thrilling super point, picked a stunning win.

Following the success of the first two seasons, the third season of the ‘Asli Entertainer’ RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 will be aired on Sony Sports Network in five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Fans can anticipate another thrilling season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 and experience the excitement of top-tier teams battle it out on the volleyball court starting 15th February 2024, 6:30 PM onwards, Live on Sony Sports Network and will be available to livestream on SonyLiv.

by Abhishek Shukla

Ahmedabad Defenders stun hosts Chennai Blitz, win opening contest in straight sets

Chennai, February 15th, 2024: The defending Champions Ahmedabad Defenders picked up a comprehensive 15-10, 15-11, 15-12 win over the hosts Chennai Blitz at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai on Thursday to kick off the third season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23. Muthusamy Appavu was named the Player of the Match.
 
The Defenders did not get off to the best of starts, with Leandro Jose combining with skipper Akhin GS. But the momentum turned for Ahmedabad after a quick advice from coach Dragan Mihailović. Ilya Burau made up for the absence of Danial Moatazedi, with stunning smashes down the right channel. Blitz found little answers for Max Senica’s serves, while unforced errors further hurt their cause.
 
Skipper Muthusamy Appavu remained the backbone for Ahmedabad, as he kept serving up balls in equal measure to all his players, keeping Blitz guessing from where the attack could come from. Midway through the game, Ahmedabad began misfiring, and Blitz found an opening. But Muthu’s perfect pass to Angamuthu brought a super point in the Defenders’ corner and the door was shut as quickly as it was opened.
 
Leandro kept earning pickings points for Chennai, but Nandagopal, and Angamuthu kept control of the outside lines deep into the game. With a resounding win in straight sets, the Defenders proved their title win was not a fluke.



Following the success of the first two seasons, the third season of the ‘Asli Entertainer’ RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 will be aired on Sony Sports Network in five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Fans can anticipate another thrilling season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 and experience the excitement of top-tier teams battle it out on the volleyball court starting 15th February 2024, 6:30 PM onwards, Live on Sony Sports Network and will be available to livestream on SonyLiv.

by Abhishek Shukla

Stage set for epic action in Chennai as RuPay Prime Volleyball League stars kick off Season 3 in style

Chennai, 14th February 2024: With the third season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 set to begin, all the captains of the nine franchises came face to face in a grand Pre-Season Press Conference at The Taj Club House in Chennai on Wednesday. The defending Champions Ahmedabad Defenders will face off against the hosts Chennai Blitz in the opening clash on Thursday, while last season’s runners-up Bengaluru Torpedoes will take on the Season 1 winners Kolkata Thunderbolts on the first day of the tournament.

Speaking at the press conference, Ahmedabad Defenders skipper Muthusamy Appavu made the intentions clear that the franchise will be gunning to make it two titles in a row. “There is always pressure when you enter the tournament as the defending Champions. It puts a target on your back. But it also motivates the players in equal measure and we are eager to showcase our skills once again. We have a new coach, the vastly experienced Dragan Mihailovic Sir, and we have had a tremendous pre-season. Now it is all about the execution of our plans.”

Meanwhile, the Chennai skipper Akhin GS said his side will have an advantage with the home crowd support and will rely on the noise from the fans. “The coach of the previous season’s winners Dakshinamoorthy Sir has been a major boost for us this season. We feel confident that we are on the right track entering the first game. We also expect a lot of support from the home crowd and we expect them to pack the stands in huge numbers and make their voices heard. Their support will help us go a long way.”

Meanwhile, both Torpedoes and Thunderbolts retained Pankaj Sharma and Ashwal Rai, respectively as Captains for the coming season. “Despite all the challenges last season, we managed to reach the final and were just inches away from grabbing the trophy. This year, we will give it all to ensure we get our hands on the title,” Pankaj said.

“We know what it takes to be a Champion and all our players are training with a similar mindset. We want to be the first team in RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 to win the trophy twice, and we are confident we will achieve our targets,” Ashwal added, ahead of the first encounter.

Meanwhile, Calicut Heroes announced Jerome Vinith as the skipper for the season, while Hyderabad Black Hawks named the veteran Ranjit Singh as the Captain. Kochi Blue Spikers handed over Captaincy to Jithin N, Mumbai Meteors named Hardeep Singh as Captain, and the new franchise Delhi Toofans picked Saqlain Tariq to lead the franchise in Season. 3

Addressing the media at the press conference, Tuhin Mishra, Managing Director & Co-Founder at Baseline Ventures Pvt Ltd said, “We are delighted to come to Chennai and showcase another exciting edition of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23. The fans here have been clamouring to have home games and we have some of the best talents, not just from India, but from all over the world, arriving in this beautiful city. We cannot wait to see what will happen and this season is truly unpredictable.”

Ramesh Yadav, Chief of Marketing, NPCI said, “The league has truly grown each year, and we are extremely elated to once again be a part of this story of the rise of volleyball in the country. Volleyball is about speed, agility, innovation, and great teamwork, which is closely aligned with the philosophy and ethos of RuPay brand. We continue to work with Prime Volleyball league teams by ensuring larger groups participate in the games across respective states and cities, this year we have advanced our partnership with Brahmaputra Volleyball league extending it to a greater geography in the northeast, focussed on improving the outreach of the game and to develop volleyball at the grassroots level. We believe that the game is about to get bigger better and more competitive.”Following the success of the first two seasons, the third season of the ‘Asli Entertainer’ RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 will be aired on Sony Sports Network in five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Fans can anticipate another thrilling season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 and experience the excitement of top-tier teams battle it out on the volleyball court starting 15th February 2024, 6:30 PM onwards, Live on Sony Sports Network and will be available to livestream on SonyLIV.

by Abhishek Shukla

Chennai to host Season 3 of RuPay Prime Volleyball League from 15th February 2024

Delhi, January 29, 2024: The highly anticipated third edition of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 is set to begin on February 15th, 2024, and will be hosted in the beautiful city of Chennai. Nine franchises – Ahmedabad Defenders, Bengaluru Torpedoes, Calicut Heroes, Chennai Blitz, Delhi Toofans, Hyderabad Black Hawks, Kochi Blue Spikers, Kolkata Thunderbolts, and Mumbai Meteors – will compete for the coveted trophy, with the Final set to take place on March 21st at the SDAT Multi – purpose Indoor Stadium, Chennai.

The Defending Champions Ahmedabad Defenders will face off against the hosts Chennai Blitz in the opening game of the tournament on February 15th, while the last year’s runners-up Bengaluru Torpedoes will take on the Season 1 winners Kolkata Thunderbolts on the same day. The third season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, and co-owned and exclusively marketed by India’s leading sports marketing firm, Baseline Ventures, will bring an exciting new format with the introduction of Super 5s, promising a bigger, better, and bolder edition. 

The Super 5s stage will take place between March 11th and March 18th in which the top five teams from the League stage will compete in a round-robin format to determine the final three teams. The team finishing first in the Super 5s will earn a direct qualification for the Final, while the teams finishing in the second and third places will compete in the Eliminator on March 19th. The winner of the Eliminator will be the second team to book a spot in the Final.

Speaking on hosting the upcoming season in Chennai, the Minister of Youth Welfare and Sports Development of Tamil Nadu, Shri Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “Ever since its inception, we have always wanted to host an edition of RuPay Prime Volleyball League in our city due to its rising popularity. Volleyball is a sport that is close to the people of Tamil Nadu and there is a huge amount of untapped potential present for the sport here. I extend a very warm welcome to all the participating teams and players from all around the world to our beautiful city and we truly believe that their presence here will not only help start  a revolution in volleyball across the state of Tamil Nadu but also inspire the next generation of athletes to think of a professional career in this sport. We hope to host another successful edition of the tournament and wish all the teams the best. Let the games begin.”

Joy Bhattacharjya, CEO, RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 said, “Volleyball has an ever-growing presence in the Southern regions and the passionate fans in Tamil Nadu have been clamouring to witness live matches for many years. We are delighted to bring the latest edition of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 to Chennai. We are thankful for the Tamil Nadu government for their blessings and support. Chennai has a huge volleyball fan base and we are confident they will be thrilled to witness  the league, which will feature some of the top talent from India and abroad.”

He further added, “One thing we always want to do is add fresh new elements to our league each year to increase our engagement with fans. The addition of a team from North, Delhi Toofans, was the first step in the direction, and the introduction of Super 5s gives a different dimension to the competition. A lot of teams have also opted for international coaches and they will bring a fresh new perspective to Indian volleyball. The fans are surely in for a treat this season.”

Watch RuPay Prime Volleyball League Season 3 from 15th February 2024 LIVE on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Ten 4 SD & HD (Tamil & Telugu) from 6.30 pm onwards.

RuPay PRIME VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE POWERED BY A23 FULL SCHEDULE: 

LEAGUE STAGE: 

15th February, 2024: 

6:30 PM: Ahmedabad Defenders vs Chennai Blitz 

8:30 PM: Bengaluru Torpedoes vs Kolkata Thunderbolts 

16th February, 2024: 

6:30 PM: Mumbai Meteors vs Delhi Toofans 

8:30 PM: Kochi Blue Spikers vs Calicut Heroes 

17th February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Chennai Blitz vs Hyderabad Black Hawks 

18th February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Ahmedabad Defenders vs Kolkata Thunderbolts 

8:30 PM: Bengaluru Torpedoes vs Delhi Toofans 

19th February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Mumbai Meteors vs Hyderabad Black Hawks 

20th February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Chennai Blitz vs Kochi Blue Spikers 

21st February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Bengaluru Torpedoes v Mumbai Meteors 

22nd February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Kolkata Thunderbolts vs Chennai Blitz 

8:30 PM: Ahmedabad Defenders vs Hyderabad Black Hawks 

23rd February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Calicut Heroes vs Delhi Toofans 

8:30 PM: Bengaluru Torpedoes vs Kochi Blue Spikers 

24th February 2024: 

REST DAY 

25th February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Kolkata Thunderbolts vs Calicut Heroes 

8:30 PM: Mumbai Meteors vs Kochi Blue Spikers 

26th February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Delhi Toofans vs Hyderabad Black Hawks 

8:30 PM: Bengaluru Torpedoes vs Ahmedabad Defenders 

27th: February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Kolkata Thunderbolts vs Kochi Blue Spikers 

28th February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Calicut Heroes vs Mumbai Meteors 

29th February 2024: 

6:30 PM: Kolkata Thunderbolts vs Hyderabad Black Hawks 

1st March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Delhi Toofans vs Chennai Blitz 

8:30 PM Mumbai Meteors vs Ahmedabad Defenders 

2nd March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Hyderabad Black Hawks vs Calicut Heroes 

3rd March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Kolkata Thunderbolts vs Delhi Toofans 

8:30 PM: Ahmedabad Defenders vs Kochi Blue Spikers 

4th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Hyderabad Black Hawks vs Bengaluru Torpedoes 

8:30 PM: Mumbai Meteors v Chennai Blitz 

5th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Kochi Blue Spikers vs Delhi Toofans 

6th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Bengaluru Torpedoes vs Calicut Heroes 

7th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Kolkata Thunderbolts vs Mumbai Meteors 

8th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Bengaluru Torpedoes vs Chennai Blitz 

8:30 PM: Ahmedabad Defenders vs Calicut Heroes 

9th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Hyderabad Black Hawks vs Kochi Blue Spikers 

10th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Chennai Blitz vs Calicut Heroes 

8:30 PM: Ahmedabad Defenders vs Delhi Toofans 

SUPER 5s 

11th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Team 1st vs Team 2nd 

12th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Team 3rd vs Team 4th 

13th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Team 1st vs Team 5th 

14th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Team 3rd vs Team 2nd 

15th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Team 1st vs Team 4th 

16th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Team 5th vs Team 2nd 

17th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Team 1st vs Team 3rd 

8:30 PM: Team 4th vs Team 5th 

18th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Team 5th vs Team 3rd 

8:30 PM: Team 4th vs Team 2nd 

ELIMINATOR 

19th March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Team 2nd (After Super 5s) vs Team 3rd (After Super 5s)  

20th March 2024: 

REST DAY 

FINAL 

21st March 2024: 

6:30 PM: Team 1st (After Super 5s) vs Winner of Eliminator

by Abhishek Shukla

RuPay Prime Volleyball League onboards Indian superstar Hrithik Roshan as Brand Ambassador for Season 3

Mumbai, January 15, 2024: The thrilling sport of Volleyball is set to sprinkle the flavour of Hindi Cinema with superstar Hrithik Roshan joining the third season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 as the Brand Ambassador. The multi-award-winning actor has garnered a reputation for his dedicated fitness and diet regimes over the past couple of decades. Hrithik, an avid sports fan himself, enjoys the physical nature of volleyball and described the partnership as a natural fit for him. To spike things up, Hrithik engaged in a discussion about the upcoming season of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 with some of the top volleyball stars who will be competing in the third edition.

RuPay Prime Volleyball League Season 3 powered by A23 is all set to begin from 15th February, 2024 and will be telecast LIVE on Sony Sports Network.

Tuhin Mishra, Managing Director & Co-Founder at Baseline Ventures Pvt Ltd was elated to welcome the Bollywood Superstar to RuPay Prime Volleyball League, “We are delighted to have Hrithik Roshan join us as our brand ambassador for the next edition. The actor has redefined the meaning of athleticism and fitness over the years and has been a true source of inspiration for many of our athletes. He has been quite vocal about the need to maintain physical and mental fitness, and hence we wanted a star personality such as him to be associated with our product. His presence will not only add glamour to RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, but it will also make the overall product even more exciting and adventurous. We cannot wait for the third season to kick off.”

Hrithik Roshan, Indian Actor and Founder of HRX shared his excitement on joining the RuPay Prime Volleyball League as the Brand Ambassador,“I’m thrilled to be a part of the third edition of RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23. My congratulations to the visionary team of Baseline Ventures, Sony Pictures Network, Sony Liv & Studio Next for putting up two remarkable Seasons of premium Volleyball that have gripped India. I’m amazed with the growing viewership and I’m positive that together we shall deliver yet another season of aspirational sporting opportunities to the youth of our country. The future of Volleyball seems bright in India and I look forward to discover newer talents through the course of the league.”

The RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, co-owned and exclusively marketed by India’s leading sports marketing firm, Baseline Ventures, will enter its third edition this year featuring nine franchises – Hyderabad Black Hawks, Ahmedabad Defenders, Kolkata Thunderbolts, Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers, Chennai Blitz, Bengaluru Torpedoes, Mumbai Meteors, and the latest addition, Delhi Toofans. The second season of the league garnered a total cumulative viewership of 206 million, as compared to 133 million from Season 1, with simultaneous broadcast in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam on Sony Sports Network. With the second season of the league witnessing over 371 million impressions, 113.9 million views, 92 million reach, 5 million fan engagements across various digital platforms, the sport gained formidable traction through social media.

The match schedule and season dates for Season 3 of RuPay Prime Volleyball League will be announced shortly.

by Abhishek Shukla

PVL: Delhi Toofans join the RuPay Prime Volleyball League for Season 3

New Delhi, 14 December, 2023: The RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23, announces its 9th franchise, the Delhi Toofans. Owned by Mr. Alok Sanghi, Director of the Sanghi Group, the Delhi Toofans, as the first team from the North bring a fresh new dimension to the already fiercely competitive league.

Mr. Sanghi, a visionary leader and a passionate sports enthusiast, expressed his excitement about his team. “I am delighted to introduce the Delhi Toofans. This is not just a team; it represents our commitment to promoting sports and providing a platform for aspiring athletes. We are looking forward to Season 3, especially after a fantastic start at the auction.”

The Delhi Toofans have already assembled a strong squad after the auction that took place last week in Bengaluru. With star setter Saqlain Tariq, Anu James and Rohit Kumar in the attack & Universal Manoj Kumar among its stars, Delhi looks to make waves in the league.

Joy Bhattacharjya, CEO, RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 said, “We are delighted to welcome the Delhi Toofans to our family. It’s wonderful to see the best minds in the business join us in our endeavour to grow and popularize the sport of Volleyball in India.”

Welcoming the Delhi franchise owner, Thomas Muthoot, Owner, Kochi Blue Spikers, added, “It is great to see the response we have been getting from various key industry leaders across India regarding the RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23. We are elated to have Mr. Sanghi join us this season. Delhi is a key market for us and with this addition, we believe we are only going to get bigger and better.”

Season 2 of the league was a huge success, simultaneously broadcast in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam on the Sony Sports Network, Sony Liv and Volleyball World. The matches generated a total cumulative viewership of 206 million, as compared to 133 million from Season 1. In addition, the season garnered over 5 million fan engagements across various digital platforms, as well as forming massive regional connections through social media.

The RuPay Prime Volleyball League Season 3 powered by A23 is set to take place in February/March 2024 and will be telecast LIVE on Sony Sports Network. The season dates and schedule will be announced shortly.

The RuPay Prime Volleyball League powered by A23 is co-owned & exclusively marketed by India’s leading sports marketing firm, Baseline Ventures, and features franchises representing Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Calicut, Kochi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai. Delhi will be the latest addition.

Delhi Toofans Full Squad: Attackers: Anu James, Santhosh S, Rohit Kumar, Amal K Thomas; Universal: Manoj Kumar, Marco Milovanovic; Libero: Anand K; Blockers: Ayush, Fayis NK, Daniel Aponza; Setters: Janshad U, Saqlain Tariq

About Sanghi Group: 

Sanghi Group, led by Mr. Alok Sanghi, is a diversified conglomerate with interests in various industries, including manufacturing, infrastructure, and sports. The group is dedicated to contributing to the growth and development of the nation through its diverse business endeavours.

by Abhishek Shukla

PVL:Record Bids and Exciting Squad Compositions at RuPay Prime Volleyball League Auction in Bengaluru

December 7th, 2023: Bengaluru: A total of 504 players went under the hammer at the Sheraton Grande hotel here in Bengaluru as nine franchises bid for the finest volleyball talent in India ahead of the third season of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League.  Representing, the North Belt, Delhi Toofans joined the likes of Ahmedabad Defenders, Kochi Blue Spikers, Hyderabad Black Hawks, Chennai Blitz, Bengaluru Torpedoes, Kolkata Thunderbolts, Mumbai Meteors and Calicut as the newest entrants to the RuPay Prime Volleyball League. At the auctions, attacker Aman Kumar and U21 prospect and setter, Sameer secured record bids to emerge as the most expensive players of the auction with a price tag of Rs 18 Lakh each. Aman Kumar was secured by Kochi Blue Spikers while Sameer went to Chennai Blitz. 

With a purse of Rs 70 Lakh, each franchise had the option to retain their players from the previous season or release them into the auction pool.  The Indian players were slotted divided into four categories, whereas International players were directly drafted into the teams. The categories included: Platinum (Base price: Rs 8 lakh), Gold (Base price: Rs 5 lakh), Silver (Base price: Rs 3 lakh), and Bronze (Base price: Rs 2 lakh). 

Ahmedabad Defenders, who are currently competing at the Men’s Club World Championships as reigning champions of the RuPay Prime Volleyball league, strengthened their squad with the addition of Shikhar Singh (middle blocker) for 16.75 Lakh and once again found Shon T John (attacker) for 11.5 Lakh. The Defenders finished their auction with the purchase of Naveen Raja Jacob (attacker) for Rs 2 Lakh. 

With the largest list of retained players Bengaluru Torpedoes had a comfortable auction as they solely purchased Tanish Chaudhary (attacker) for Rs 5 Lakh 

Calicut Heroes’ first buy of the day was Prince (attacker), bought at Rs 7.8 Lakh. The Heroes also picked up Alan Ashique (libero) at Rs 3 Lakh and Vikas Maan (middle blocker), Aman Kumar (setter) and Praveen Kumar at a price tag of Rs 2 Lakh. 

Chennai Blitz, in a landmark bid, commissioned the services of  U21 player Sameer (setter) from the Gold category, while making the highest bid in auction history at Rs 18 Lakh. R Prabhakaran (libero) and Himanshu Tyagi (attacker) also found their way to the Chennai Blitz at the price of Rs 3 Lakh each. Meanwhile, Suryan Nanjil (setter) was sought by the Blitz for Rs 2.6 Lakh while Joel Benjamin (attacker) joined the squad priced at Rs 2 Lakh. 

Competing in their debut season, the Delhi Toofans were given the option to draft people ahead of the auction. They opened their auction with veteran Rohit Kumar (attacker) at a price of Rs 11.25 Lakh, followed by a successful bid of Rs 3.4 Lakh for Amal K Thomas (attacker). For a middle blocker, the Toofans scooped up Fayis NK at Rs 3 Lakh, and Manoj Kumar came in (universal) at Rs 3 Lakh. 

Hyderabad Black Hawks began their auction with the acquisition of Prince (middle blocker) for Rs 14.75 Lakh and Sahil Kumar (universal) for Rs 10 Lakh. Furthermore, Ashok (attacker) joined the Hyderabad set up for Rs 2 Lakh. 

Kochi Blue Spikers were relentless in their pursuit of Aman Kumar (attacker), roping him in for a record price of Rs 18 Lakh, making him the most expensive buy in the league’s history. Sachin K (middle blocker) joined the squad at Rs 5 Lakh while Jithin N (setter) was bagged for Rs 5.9 Lakh.  The Spiker further strengthened their teams with the addition of Lad Om Vasant (setter) for Rs 6.1 Lakh, Digvijay Singh (middle blocker) for 4.75 Lakh and veteran libero Ratheesh for Rs 2 Lakh.

Kolkata Thunderbolts made their first purchase of the day, with a Rs 7 Lakh bid for Vinayak (setter). The Thunderbolts went on to make investments in Prabhagaran (attacker), Arjun Nath L S (middle blocker), Amit Chokker (attacker) and Deepak Kumar (attacker) for Rs 3 Lakh. However, Kolkata’s biggest purchase was Praful S (middle blocker) for Rs 9.25 Lakh. 

Mumbai Meteors were the most active franchise in the platinum category, obtaining Shubham Chaudhary (universal) for Rs 14 Lakh and Ajith Lal (attacker) for Rs 8.25 Lakh. The Meteors also procured Uttar Pradesh’s Vipul Kumar (setter) for Rs 5.1 Lakh, Suyansh Tomar (attacker) for Rs. 3.2 Lakh and Saurabh Mann for Rs 2 Lakh. 

Joy Bhattacharjya, CEO, RuPay Prime Volleyball League, said, “Much like the previous two editions of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League, we have had yet another thrilling auction. It is always fascinating to see the different strategies each franchise will deploy to strengthen their respective teams and based on the day’s proceedings I am certain that we are in for another riveting season of volleyball.”

Tuhin Mishra, Co-Founder & MD, Baseline Ventures, said, “As we embarked on this journey to empower and promote Indian volleyball, it has been a privilege to watch the league grow year on year. We are elated to welcome the newest franchise, Delhi Toofans and look forward to their inaugural season of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League.  Today’s auction was a thrilling experience and we have been left with very exciting squad compositions.” 

by Abhishek Shukla

New dawn for Indian Volleyball with the launch of Prime Volleyball League

Hyderabad, 15 September 2021:  After a two-year hiatus, top level Volleyball action will return to Indian screens with the launch of the Prime Volleyball League.
 
The Prime Volleyball League heralds a dramatic shift from the traditional model of franchise based sports leagues in the country. In line with top international  leagues like the NBA, the league will operate with a model in which franchise owners are also stakeholders in the holding organization of the league. This comes as a welcome step for the franchises, as it offers more value to team owners and investors, and  fosters long term associations and a stable financial structure.
 
The first edition of the Prime Volleyball League will feature six teams, Calicut Heroes, Kochi Blue Spikers, Ahmedabad Defenders, Hyderabad Black Hawks, Chennai Blitz, all franchises previously associated with the volleyball league & a new entrant, the Bengaluru Torpedoes, whose lead owner is Mr. Ankit Nagori, founder of EatFit. The league will be telecast on the Sony Pictures Network and will be exclusively marketed by Baseline Ventures, the leading sports marketing firm in the nation. Fantasy games leaders A23 have signed on as “Powered By” sponsors in a multi-year deal.
 
Speaking about the development, Joy Bhattacharya, CEO, Prime Volleyball League said, “We have already seen the quality of talent in the country; our endeavour is to provide this talent the right kind of platform to grow. This kind of structure, where franchises are committed for the long term gives the game an opportunity to grow in a sustained manner, and that is the best thing possible for Indian volleyball.
 
Speaking on behalf of the franchises,  Mr. Thomas Muthoot of the Muthoot Pappachan Group, owner of Kochi Blue Spikers, said, “Our first association with the sport in 2019 was very successful. We are delighted to continue this association with this new structure that is a win-win for both franchises and the players.”
  
Neville Bastawalla · SVP & Head – Marketing & On Air Promotions, Sports Channels at Sony Pictures Networks India said, “There is a huge appetite for volleyball in India and in fact it was among the most watched sports during the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 on our network, even though there was no Indian participation. The success of the league the last time around, combined with the high-octane action of the sport makes the Prime Volleyball League a great addition to the sports portfolio of Sony Pictures Networks India. We are keen to work closely with the stakeholders of the league to build both the league and the sport with viewers in India.”
 
Deepak Gullapalli, CEO Head Digital Works was excited about their association with the league. “Fantasy Sport is growing at a frenetic rate, and we at A23 are always looking to broaden the appeal of sport both within and beyond cricket. Volleyball, with its widespread urban and rural appeal is a huge potential growth area, and our custom designed volleyball fantasy offering will drive a whole new set of consumers to the sport.’
 
The League will shortly be announcing the dates for the auction and the schedule for the coming season of action.
 
In its continuing quest to provide opportunities for both upcoming players and coaching staff, the Prime Volleyball League has also tied up with Piston Des Sports to create a portal for potential players and coaching staff to register and get an opportunity to be a part of the action.