Volleyball Federation of India (VFI) today announced to launch of the India Volleyball League (iv League) to be held later this year.
"It would usher in a revolution in Indian volleyball. It has been a dream of our players who would now get the exposure that they have been looking forward to," said VFI president Chaudhury Avadesh Kumar.
The success of Hockey India League, Pro Kabaddi, Premier Badminton League etc. Has prompted volleyball administrators to eye television revenue. At a press meet, Kumar, a former volleyball player, informed that the federation, in association with Sportzlive, a company focused on investing and creating Sports IPR, would launch three leagues -- women's league, men's league and beach volleyball league -- this year.
The leagues would have the approval of Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the world governing body of the game.
It maybe recalled that the first edition of the Indian Volleyball League (IVL) was launched in 2011. But, as it failed to evoke a favourable response, there was no second edition.
The new leagues would be franchise based. The process of selecting franchises has already started, informed Atul Pande, promoter, Sportzlive. The franchise fee for the men's league has been fixed at Rs 2.5 crore whereas, it is Rs 1 crore for the women's and the beach volleyball league.
The players' purse for the men's league is Rs 1.10 crore. For women, it is Rs 60 lakh. Each team will have a minimum of four international players, including one international 'marquee player'.
The leagues will be played in three phases. The organisers plan to launch the first phase, the women's league, in June-July. The men's league will be tentatively held in October and the beach volleyball league in January, 2017.
All the leagues will be played in a round robin format followed by knock-out stages, travelling the length and breadth of the country in a caravan format, informed Pande.
Replying to a query on VFI secretary Ramavtar Singh Jakhar's absence at today's event, Kumar played it down by saying, "Minor differences of opinion are there in every family."
It maybe recalled that Jakhar had announced the second edition of IVL, in association with another company, recently.
Indian internationals Pooja, Vineet and former India captain Ranjit Kumar were present on the occasion, along with representatives of various state volleyball associations.
