Prime Volleyball League: the prudent, viable revolution that is being televised
Tuhin Mishra was looking for a sport that could catch the imagination of the television audience. He also wanted it to be a sport in which the national team had the potential to climb the ladder in the global arena. Volleyball fitted the bill, he found out.
That was some seven years ago. The Prime Volleyball League has not just injected badly needed fresh life into the sport in India, but it continues to attract new investors as well. Goa Guardians became the league's 10th team ahead of the player-auction at Kozhikode earlier this month.
Growing viewership
Tuhin, who was in the northern Kerala city, is excited that the fourth edition of the league could have a wider audience with YouTube streaming the action across the world. 'Last season alone, the television viewership, according to BARC, was close to 200 million, which is a huge number for a non-cricket league in India,' the league's co-founder tells The Hindu . 'The league's growth over the last couple of years has, in fact, been really good.'
The Prime Volleyball League wasn't always the Prime Volleyball League, though. Back in 2019, Tuhin's Baseline Ventures, in partnership with the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI), had launched Pro Volley. That league, however, lasted just one season. From the indoor court, Pro Volley moved to a court of law after the VFI terminated the 10-year contract. Baseline won the case, in straight sets, as it were: the VFI was ordered to pay Rs. 4.5 crore as compensation.
After a break of three years, the Prime Volleyball League took off. Calicut Heroes, which won Season 3 last year, was also one of the teams in Pro Volley. The franchise's owner, P.T. Safeer, says his passion for the game was shared by his partners at the Kozhikode-based Beacon Group. 'We used to conduct volleyball tournaments and then formed a club,' he says. 'When Pro Volley took off, we wanted to be part of it.'
'We had faith in volleyball,' says Tuhin. 'Pro Volley was a success; good crowds came to watch the games, the television numbers were good, and major corporates, like Rupay, Nippon Paint and Bank of Baroda, came on board as sponsors.'
There are also sponsors for the franchises in the Prime Volleyball League. 'Sponsors take quite a bit of pressure off us,' says Safeer. 'Yes, we know it will take some time for the league to break even, but we are willing to wait.'
Tuhin believes it could take only another three to four years for that to happen. 'Even IPL franchises took 10 years to break even,' he says. 'Actually some of our teams are almost there already.'
The league should be among the most prudently managed ones out there. The entire tournament is held at one venue, over a month, thus saving on the cost of logistics. And look at the way the players' salaries are capped. The fattest paycheque this year is Rs. 22.5 lakh. Exorbitant salaries have proved rather costly for some leagues in India, with players getting paid the kind of money they would not have dreamt of.
Slow and steady
'Yes, that was something we were very conscious of,' says Tuhin. 'With our background in sports management, having handled careers of several athletes, we know where the problem is when it comes to the viability of a professional league. The biggest problem is trying to pay the players too much. Every league is not an IPL. The growth in salary has to be realistic; it has to be slow and steady.'
Still for Indian players, the money in the Prime Volleyball League is really good, because they used to be paid a pittance earlier. Tom Joseph, one of the finest Indian volleyball has ever produced, says that although organisers made a lot of money from hosting regular tournaments — volleyball is insanely popular in small towns in northern Kerala, where over 10,000 fans fill makeshift galleries — players like him would not be adequately compensated or even given proper accommodation.
'Even after I have played for India, I remember sleeping on benches at a school for a National championship, and now the Prime Volleyball players are provided accommodation in five-star hotels,' says Tom, who was the head coach of Hyderabad Black Hawks in 2023. 'In my time, a top player would get only Rs. 25,000 or 30,000 for an entire season, in which we would be playing a dozen tournaments over several months. Now from the Prime Volleyball League, even an average player would get Rs. 5 lakh, that too playing for just a month.'
Tom points out countries like Iran and Qatar had similar leagues in his playing days. 'I have played in Qatar, and because of those leagues, the national teams of those countries have improved greatly,' says the former India captain. 'Iran used to be ranked No. 8 or 9 in Asia, behind India, and now it is No. 2.'
He says because of the league, more young talents are coming through. 'Look at a player like Jasjodh Singh from Punjab, he was picked up for Rs. 14.75 lakh by Kochi Blue Spikers even though he is not an international,' says Tom. 'Volleyball is now looking attractive for youngsters. And because of the league, Indian volleyball is getting new talents, such as K. Anand, E.J. John Joseph, K. Rahul and T.R. Sethu.'
That, says Tuhin, is one of the aims of the league. 'We want to see the Indian volleyball team faring well at the international level, and everyone's dream is to see India playing at the Olympics,' he says. 'And the talent is there, and we are improving our ranking, too. Even FIVB, the international volleyball governing body, is keen about India; they have appointed a coach for India, Dragan Mihailovic, and they are paying him.'
Reasons for optimism
There is reason for Tuhin to be optimistic. India does not merely have a strong tradition in volleyball — the country has produced world class men like Jimmy George and contested the final of the World under-19 championship in 2003 — but there is also plenty of talent around still. Volleyball is one of the very few truly global sports in which India can aspire to do well.
Tuhin says the game is getting increasingly popular, going by the television viewership. 'The best thing about the television audience, we found, is that lots of women and kids are watching the league,' he says. 'It is not just mostly men — as is the case with most sports broadcasts — that tune into the league. The split between men and women is 53-47.'
Safeer believes the league's business model also should help. 'This is a league in which the franchises also have a direct stake in the ownership,' he says. 'So we will get a fair share of the league's profit.'
The Prime Volleyball League indeed has the potential to become one of Indian sport's success stories.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
14 minutes ago
- Indian Express
From building stadiums to hosting international events, how Bihar is trying to turn around its sporting culture
When Bihar played Mumbai at Patna's Moin-ul-Haq stadium in January 2024, it wasn't the game or the cricketing stars that captured media attention. It was the state of the stadium — the broken and muddy stands, the overgrown lawn and the non-functional scoreboard, all telltale signs of government apathy. Since then, Bihar appears to be trying hard to shed that image. From a new multi-crore state-of-the-art sports complexes and a sports university to hosting Khelo India Youth games and a new policy and department exclusively to it, Bihar is doing much in this direction. Bihar's sports push can be gauged from the fact that its sports budget shot up from Rs 30 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 568 crore in 2025-26. According to a senior leader of the ruling Janata Dal (United), the Nitish Kumar government was trying to use such initiatives to tap into a vast vote base – the youth. Youth are estimated to make up about 30 percent of Bihar's population and, according to the leader, such a push holds particular significance since the state has historically lagged behind in sporting achievements. 'Promoting sundry sports ahead of crucial 2025 Assembly polls could come in handy for the government to tap into the vast constituency of youth, which is caste-neutral,' the senior leader, who is close to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, said. 'At the heart of this transformation is the belief that sports can empower the youth, promote community well-being, and uplift the state's image on both national and international stages'. A senior government official added: 'If Nitish Kumar's tenure as Bihar CM between 2005 and 2020 is often cited for infrastructure overhaul in the state and providing drinking water to almost all villages, the CM's current tenure between 2020 and 2025 has witnessed a massive push for sports – from upgrading of sports infrastructure to taking Bihar on national map by hosting several national and international sports events in past few years.' A large part of the push is decentralisation of sports and promotion at the village level. This includes constructing outdoor stadiums at block levels to encourage more participation. But it's not only sports infrastructure that the state is upgrading: it's also simultaneously offering incentives for athletes, even announcing a new policy last year for directly recruiting medal-winning athletes into government jobs. Bihar's push for sports also found a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech on the opening day of the 7th edition of Khelo India Youth Games, 2025, on May 4. In it, Modi lavished praise at the Bihar government's initiatives to promote sports and said events such Khelo India Youth Games would further 'help Bihar in establishing its presence in the field of sports at national level'. Building sports cities, decentralising sports — Bihar's massive sports push Soon after the January 2024 fiasco, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a revamp of the Moinul Haque stadium. Meanwhile, just ahead of the Khelo India Youth games, Nitish inaugurated sports facilities at the Rajgir Sports Academy-cum-Sports University. Built at a cost of Rs 750 crore, the 90-acre sports complex boasts of having both indoor and outdoor stadiums with facilities to host sports events across 24 disciplines. Also under construction is an international cricket stadium at Rajgir with a capacity of 40,000 spectators, expected to be ready by the end of the year. The stadium is expected to host both domestic and international matches. The Bihar Sports University, meanwhile, is expected to be opened to students from the 2025-26 academic session. The university, which got recognition from the University Grants Commission in January this year, will offer both degree and diploma programmes in various disciplines of sports. Among its programmes are diploma/PG diploma in sports coaching, diploma/PG diploma in Yoga, four years Bachelor of Physical education. It will also offer programmes in sport sciences. Besides this, the government has also begun hosting a variety of national and international sporting events, from the Women's Asian Hockey and the Ranji Trophy Cup matches in 2024 to the Sepak Takraw World Cup 2025 and the Khelo India Youth Games 2025. In January last year, the state government created a standalone sports department, previously part of the art, culture and youth affairs department. This came a year after the state government set up the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA) – the body that promotes athletes in the state. The government is also setting up a Rs 100-crore sports complex at Punpun on the outskirts of Patna. The complex would be part of a larger sports city complete with modern facilities such as training centre, gyn, lounges and restaurants. Meanwhile, officials at block and district levels have been asked to have playgrounds ready 'as part of the state government's mega drive to nurture sports talents from grassroot levels', Masaurhi sub-divisional officer Amit Kumar Patel said. Out of Bihar's 534 blocks, 252 already have fully constructed outdoor stadiums while an additional 64 are currently under construction, while 58 are at the active development stage, officials said. 'Proposals for stadiums have been received from 163 more blocks, indicating strong grassroots interest and participation in the program. So far, 25 districts have completed these sports-cum-fitness centres, and another 13 have received official approval for construction,' one district official said. In March this year, the BSSA launched 'Mashal' – a statewide talent search competition for schools. The event saw the participation of students from 38,000 government secondary and higher secondary schools in the state. Students selected under this programme are trained to go to cluster, block, district and state competitions. 'The competition is conducted in two categories — Under 14 and Under 16 for boys and girls. At present, students participate in athletics, kabaddi, badminton, football and volleyball,' one official said, adding that there are plans to add at least half a dozen more sports in the coming three years. In addition, the state is trying to incentivise sports and sportspeople under its 'Medal Lao, Naukri Pao' scheme. 'Under this, medal winners at various sporting competitions will be given Class 1 government jobs without appearing for a written test or interview. So far, 71 national and international award winners have been given government jobs,' one official said. The state government is also offering scholarships for athletes. According to government officials, 123 athletes have been granted scholarships of up to Rs 5 lakh/year. 'This category guarantees that athletes at various levels receive sufficient support to pursue their sporting ambitions. It covers expenses related to training, travel, equipment, and other vital needs,' one official said. Meanwhile, high-performing athletes who have already showcased outstanding skills at national or international competitions are entitled to scholarships of up to Rs 20 lakh/annum. 'The scholarship ensures that elite athletes have access to top-notch training facilities, coaching, nutrition, and medical care. It enables them to compete at the highest levels and achieve recognition for both the state and the nation,' the official said. According to Additional Chief Secretary B Rajender, the initiatives have already begun showing results. 'That Bihar is witnessing a sports revolution is evident in the state's record 36 medals at the 2025 Khelo India Youth Games, a 620 percent jump from last year. A key pillar of this transformation is the rapid expansion of grassroots infrastructure — construction for 6,659 new sports grounds across 5,671 gram panchayats has begun. At the same time, the government is setting up khel clubs and launching talent hunts involving around 60 lakh players from 40,000 schools, ensuring that every corner of Bihar becomes a cradle for sporting excellence.' Athletes too believe these programmes prove how seriously the state is now taking sports. 'Bihar's sports facilities are now at par with Delhi's sports facilities,' Anishka Kumari, an archer, said. 'Bihar hosting some national and international events is a big enough proof of it.' But some experts believe the measures are 'too little, too late'. 'Why had Moin-ul-Haq stadium remained ignored all these years when a small state like Jharkhand has two world-class stadia?' Bihar Players Association president Mrityunjay Tiwari asked. 'The government has to start from basics – we do not have devoted playing hours in schools, and we hardly have sports trainers. Raising boundary walls in villages does not make it a stadium. It is good that the government is finally addressing the neglect of sports but it has to first inculcate sports culture. It can come with good trainers and decentralised sports infrastructure.' Santosh Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express since June 2008. He covers Bihar with main focus on politics, society and governance. Investigative and explanatory stories are also his forte. Singh has 25 years of experience in print journalism covering Bihar, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. ... Read More
News18
25 minutes ago
- News18
Manchester City Vs Al Ain Live Football Streaming For FIFA Club World Cup 2025: How To Watch MCI Vs AIN Coverage On TV And Online
Last Updated: Check out the live streaming details for Manchester City vs Al Ain FIFA Club World Cup 2025 match to be played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta Live Football Streaming For the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Match: Manchester City will look to confirm their pre-quarterfinals berth at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 with the match against Al Ain at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday, June 23. Group G is heading for a decisive second round of games as the English Premier League giants take on their UAE-based rivals after defeating Morocco's Wydad AC 2-0 in their first match. Al Ain suffered a painstaking 0-5 loss in their opening encounter versus Juventus and now require a superlative turnaround to beat Pep Guardiola's men and keep their hopes alive. A victory apiece for Manchester City and Juventus over Wydad AC in their next game on Sunday will seal the two qualifiers from Group G. Manchester City XI: Ederson, Lewis, Reis, Ake, O'Relly, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Savinho, Marmoush, Doku Al Ain XI: Rui Patricio; Traore, Ratnick, Autonne, Rabia, Zabala; Romero, Park Yongwoo, Palacios; Rahimi, Laba. About the Author First Published: Latest News Virgo Horoscope Today, June 22nd, 2025 Astrology Football Manchester City Vs Al Ain Live Football Streaming For FIFA Club World Cup 2025: How To Watch MCI Vs AIN Coverage On TV And Online Astrology Leo Horoscope Today, June 22nd, 2025 World Did Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Attempt Terror Attack Against Israelis In Cyprus? | Exclusive Viral Ramen Lovers In Disbelief As Packet Carries Cancer Warning | WATCH latest news
News18
9 hours ago
- News18
Rishabh Pant's Unique Six-Hitting Stat In Record-Breaking Innings At Leeds
Rishabh Pant broke multiple records en rout to scoring his seventh century. India's Rishabh Pant surpassed MS Dhoni for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket, achieving his seventh century on the second day of the series opener against England. Pant hit a six off the first ball of the 100th over in India's first innings, clearing the fence off Shoaib Bashir to reach the milestone. This was his first century since September 2024, when he scored 109 against Bangladesh. In 90 Tests, Dhoni had accumulated 4,876 runs with six centuries and 33 fifties, averaging 38.09. During this innings of 134 off 178 balls (12 fours, 6 sixes), Pant also completed 3,000 runs in 44 Tests, boasting 15 fifties and an average of nearly 44. He remains the highest run-scorer as an Indian wicketkeeper-batter in Tests. Wriddhiman Saha is third on this list with two centuries, followed by Syed Kirmani and Farokh Engineer, who also have two each. Nayan Mongia has scored one century. Pant's 6-Hitting Record The wicket-keeper-batter achieved a remarkable feat in a Test innings in England by hitting six sixes, the highest number by a visiting batter in the sport's history. This accomplishment also places him as the joint-second-highest scorer by an Indian in a Test innings away from home, behind Hardik Pandya's seven against Sri Lanka in 2017. Rishabh Pant 's innings of 134 runs is the second-highest by a wicketkeeper at Headingley, only behind Jonny Bairstow's 140 against Sri Lanka in 2016. Pant's notable achievement of hitting a century with a six has become a hallmark of his Test career. He has achieved this remarkable feat three times in Tests, all against England. His first century with a six was against Adil Rashid at The Oval in 2018, followed by Joe Root in Ahmedabad in 2021, and Shoaib Bashir in Leeds. Among Indian batsmen, only Sachin Tendulkar (six) and Rohit Sharma (three) are around Pant's numbers. Since 2002, Pant has been the only batter to hit a six to complete his hundred more frequently than any other player. Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Kumar Sangakkara, Rohit Sharma, and Kusal Mendis have also achieved this feat three times during this period. (With inputs from Agencies) About the Author Ritayan Basu Location : Leeds First Published: June 21, 2025, 22:12 IST Latest News Mephedrone valued at Rs 12 lakh seized in Nagpur, 4 held Agency feeds Agency feeds Senior National Swimming Championship begins Sunday in Bhubaneswar Agency feeds Mumbai: Fire erupts at building in Byculla, dozen people rescued Cricket Rishabh Pant's Unique Six-Hitting Stat In Record-Breaking Innings At Leeds Cricket Jasprit Bumrah Becomes Most Successful Asian Test Bowler In SENA Countries latest news
