KOLKATA: The co-owner of the Kolkata Thunderbolts franchise of the Prime Volleyball League (Pro Volleyball league rebadged for legal reasons) has opened up about the reasons behind investing in a PVL team.
Pawan Kumar Patodia, chairman and mnaging director of Pulkit Veneer Mills Private Limited, also chairman and co-owner of the Kolkata Thunderbolts, said: “Growing up, I used to play volleyball which I lost touch with after I got involved in my business. Later, I received a small chance to see volleyball being played in Assam, where I realized that the players in India have potential but are not getting platforms such as cricket and football in this sport.”
“After thorough research, I realized volleyball is the 2nd most popular sport played in the world, and the 3rd most popular sport played in India and that volleyball leagues are being played in 18 countries across the world but not in India. Hence, as soon as I found out about the Prime Volleyball League, I jumped on the opportunity to invest in a team.”
Patodia also explained the unique nature of the PVL and why its business model is more sustainable than the other leagues in the country.
“The most impressive thing about the Prime Volleyball League is that it is a private league, so far not seen in India. Here all the owners of the seven franchises have stakes in the leagues. So, there are no chances of a conflict. Because they will never decide against volleyball,” he explained.
“PVL is a proper professional league. They know what the shortcomings were the last time around. So, they have been very focused from day one on organizing everything right, from the auction to bringing the foreign players, despite the pandemic. They are ensuring all the requirements of the franchises are met. So, I believe this Prime Volleyball League will support the growth of volleyball, which nobody can stop now,” he added.
With an eye on the future, the Kolkata Thunderbolts camp is also looking to build a solid pool of talent in the city and the state to ensure the growth of the sport in West Bengal.
“This year, we only had one player who came at the auction from Bengal, Sujoy Dutta, who has been picked up by us and is our ‘face for Bengal’. He would inspire more and more players from this region to start taking up volleyball as their career choice. We are hopeful that from next year onwards, we will get more Bengal-based players, and then in no time, volleyball will be the new buzz in every house. Also, I am sure the sports-loving fans in Bengal and especially Kolkata will also support their own heroes in volleyball,” Patodia said.
On being asked how he plans to promote volleyball in Bengal, Patodia said he would be working at grass root level and has plans to open a volleyball academy in West Bengal and Assam where players from 14 years of age will be trained for volleyball.
He also expressed confidence that by 2027 at least four players from his academy would play in the under-21 squad at India level.
Patodia further said his team has collaborated with French sportswear brand Decathlon and they would be visiting hundreds of schools in Kolkata and other districts of Bengal and distribute volleyball nets and balls to encourage interest in the game.
