The Premier Handball League (PHL) has given players hope for the advancement of the sport in India. The league, which will take place from June 8-25 at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan, will see six teams compete against each other: Rajasthan Patriots, Garvit Gujarat, Maharashtra Ironmen, Golden Eagles Uttar Pradesh, Telugu Talons, and Delhi Panzers. A total of 116 players, including international and domestic talents, took part in the inaugural PHL auction.
Indian Handball team captain Arun Kumar expressed his enthusiasm regarding the league’s initiation and expressed his hope that it will have a positive impact on the sport’s growth. He stated that the league will give players the opportunity to learn from foreign players, which will be beneficial for the growth of the national team. Kumar emphasized the importance of competing alongside foreign players, citing that it will help identify weaknesses which can be addressed, ultimately contributing to the team’s improvement and progress.
Following the PHL, there will be the upcoming Asian Games and Asian Championship. Kumar believes that the league will provide players with a solid foundation and equipment, ensuring their performance is of high caliber, and consequently, training sessions will align with these prestigious events.
Atul, who will play for Rajasthan Patriots in PHL, highlighted that the players’ only goal is to elevate the stature of handball, and added that the true victor will always be the sport of handball itself.
The league is sanctioned by the South Asian Handball Federation and affiliated with the Asian Handball Federation (AHF). The International Handball Federation (IHF) has also promised to support the league, which is expected to bolster the progress of handball in India and attract more players to take up the sport professionally.
