LAUSANNE, Switzerland: World Archery and Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited have signed an exclusive broadcast deal that will see the broadcast of major international archery events across eight territories of the Indian subcontinent: India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Maldives.
The agreement covers the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup season and the 2019 Hyundai World Archery Championships, which acts as the primary qualification event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The profile of archery in India is rising thanks to world-class performances from athletes like Deepika Kumari, a five-time medallist at the Hyundai Archery World Cup Final and star of the Netflix documentary Ladies First, and world number eight Abhishek Verma.
The Indian team announced its line-up for the upcoming international calendar in March. The Indian team will open the season at the second stage of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup in Shanghai, China at the start of May.
World Archery president Prof Dr Ugur Erdener said: “Ever since Deepika Kumari’s victory at the Commonwealth Games in 2010, Indian archers have come within a few arrow’s widths of claiming titles at the sport’s biggest events.”
“Archery is a sport of precision, patience and practice – and of rising popularity in the Indian sub-continent, where it is rooted in the region’s culture and history. We expect this new partnership with Sony to leverage the excitement of our international calendar to engage people across the region with archery in the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.”
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer, head of distribution and sports business Rajesh Kaul said: “Our goal has always been to showcase the best of International sporting events and Sony Pictures Networks is strongly focused in expanding its international sports portfolio as well as growing its sports offerings.”
“We are pleased to announce that we are the official broadcasters of the 2019 Hyundai Archery World Cup in India where viewers can look forward to seeing the Indian contingent perform and make its mark in this global arena.”
