NEW DELHI: The Premier Handball League (PHL) on Tuesday announced Maharashtra Ironmen as the fourth team for the inaugural edition of the franchise-based league.
The team from Maharashtra is owned by Punit Balan of the Punit Balan Group.
A sports enthusiast, Balan has investments in the field of sports, entertainment as well as real estate. He also owns multiple teams in various sporting leagues (including the Tennis Premier League).
Balan, who has also invested in a sports employment startup, has made notable contributions through the Indrani Balan Foundation for financial sustainability of Army Goodwill Schools and Parivar School Society in Jammu & Kashmir.
“Having stakeholders who are equally passionate and have a vision for Handball in India is a perfect combination for us at PHL. We are delighted to welcome Mr Punit Balan and the Punit Balan Group on board and believe that this partnership will not only help in restoring the rich sporting legacy of Maharashtra but will also enable the sport of Handball to be developed into a commercially viable product in Maharashtra where the sport is already popular,” said Manu Agrawal, CEO, Bluesport Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., official license holders of the PHL.
Bluesport Entertainment, which has acquired the rights for both men’s and women’s handball leagues in India for the next 10 years, has announced an investment of Rs 240 crore towards developing the sport in India.
Maharashtra Ironmen will be among the six teams to feature in the inaugural edition of the PHL, slated to take place later this year.
Bluesport Entertainment have earlier launched three teams namely: Garvit Gujarat, Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan Wolverines.
