Mumbai: In a significant boost for Indian tennis, Kia India and the Tennis Premier League (TPL) have announced a landmark three-year partnership, with Kia India joining as the Exclusive Sponsor of the league.
The multi-year association marks a major milestone for Indian tennis by bringing together one of the world’s leading automobile brands with a home-grown tennis league that has steadily expanded its presence across India.
Over the last seven seasons, the Tennis Premier League — conducted under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association — has emerged as one of India’s most prominent non-cricket sporting leagues.
The league enjoys support from tennis legends Leander Paes and Sania Mirza, along with celebrity franchise owners including Sonali Bendre and Rakul Preet Singh.
As part of the agreement, Kia India branding will be integrated across the Tennis Premier League ecosystem, including the TPL App and all eight franchise teams as the front-of-jersey sponsor.
The partnership will also support the league’s grassroots development initiatives aimed at identifying and nurturing young tennis talent across India.
Over the last two years, the TPL’s “Race to Gold Scholarship” initiative has supported more than 80 young players. With Kia India’s backing, the programme aims to support over 120 additional athletes in the coming years with a long-term vision of developing Olympic-level talent for the 2036 Olympics.
Speaking about the partnership, Leander Paes said the Tennis Premier League has helped build a strong platform for Indian tennis from grassroots to professional competition, adding that long-term corporate support is essential for the sport’s growth.
TPL Co-Founder Kunal Thakkur described the partnership as a major moment for the league and said Kia India’s support would help expand grassroots initiatives and strengthen Indian tennis development.
