Amid the surge in Covid-19 infections in the country, the management of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League (PVL) on Monday announced to shift the venue inaugural edition from Kochi to Hyderabad after careful deliberations.
The inaugural edition of the tournament will now be held at the famous Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, where a number of big sporting events have been organized in the past. The league will be held between February 5 and 27.
An official statement from the management said that the health and safety of all the personnel involved in the competition was the number one priority for them and therefore the competition will be held in a robust bio-bubble and the league organizers will ensure that all protocols are strictly being followed inside the bubble.
Commenting on the development, Tuhin Mishra, Co-Founder & MD, Baseline Ventures, said: “We were really looking forward to hosting the RuPay Prime Volleyball League in Kochi, however, after reviewing the rising Covid-19 situation in Kerala and constant discussions with various authorities, we came to the conclusion that it would be best for everyone if we move the venue to Hyderabad keeping in mind. There is a strong interest for volleyball in Hyderabad and therefore it was a simple choice for us once we decided to change the venue.”
“We are working with the Telangana State authorities to ensure all protocols are followed and we conduct a smooth sporting event. We hope that all players and support staff have a fantastic competition in Hyderabad. We would also like to thank the Kerala State Authorities and the great team at Regional Sports Centre for their support and understanding through this period,” he added.
Meanwhile, Joy Bhattacharya, CEO, RuPay Prime Volleyball League said: “Hyderabad has always had a great sporting culture and therefore we are delighted to organize the RuPay Prime Volleyball League in the city. We have waited a long time to provide a platform to all talented volleyball players from around the world to showcase their talent and hence we cannot wait for the competition to begin.”
“All the players are eagerly waiting to shine for their respective teams and we are doing everything to ensure a safe and successful tournament is organised. I would also like to thank all the teams and our partners for their support in reaching this decision,” he added.
Notably, the league is exclusively marketed by Baseline Ventures, the leading sports marketing firm in the nation while RuPay, the first-of-its-kind Global Card payment network from India, has come on board as the Title Sponsor of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League while Fantasy games leaders A23 have signed on as “Powered By” Sponsors in a multi-year deal.
On the other hand, EatFit, Amul and Nippon Paint are the Associate Spons while Cosco has associated as the Official Partner. Meanwhile, ShareChat and Moj are the Official Content Partners of the RuPay Prime Volleyball League.
The RuPay Prime Volleyball League will comprise 24 games and the schedule for the league will be announced in the days to follow.