Star India, Reliance and IMG’s forthcoming venture Indian Super league aims to make the Indian football team participate in the 2026 World Cup
In an attempt to make football a flagship sport and India a name to reckon with in the global arena, Reliance Industries ltd, Star India and IMG are all set to launch the Indian Super league, an unrivalled football championship that will foster local talent and feature international stars.
The league promises to revolutionise the sport from the very get-go and offer Indian football greater global exposure that will eventually help India qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The three companies have a storied tradition of innovation, competitiveness and institutional commitment that will propel the venture, in which the partners will have proportionate stakes.
The Indian Super league will feature eight city-specific teams to start with and will tap the burgeoning interest among the country’s young population, that’s increasingly seen taking interest in the sport globally. The league will kick-off in January 2014 and will run through March 2014, with plans for a second window in the same year.
Globally, football is the world’s favourite sport, ranking highest in terms of participation, number of fans, TV viewership, sponsorship and revenues. “Football, with its largely untapped potential in the country, has the opportunity to grow to an unrivalled commercial success quite unlike any other sport. We hope the growing football footprint will pave the way for the nation’s sporting renaissance,” said Nita Ambani, chairperson of IMG-Reliance.
“Combined with our expertise in sports production, our attempt is to bring an unparalleled football experience to our viewers”, said Uday Shankar, CEO of Star India. “For far too long, the Indian sports fan has quietly waited for this revolution on the cusp of which we stand today. Our objective is nothing short of creating a movement around football in India.”
“The Indian Super league will feature international football stars combined with good football facilities, rivalry between India’s biggest cities and the roar of a billion passionate fans,” said Mike Dolan, chairman and CEO, IMG Worldwide.
The league will see world-class international players play with the best from India. Each team will have one marquee player, international players and the best of Indian talent.The Indian Super league will also implement various football development projects aimed at holistic development of the sport in the country.