| ESPN Software India Pvt. Ltd director corporate communications
and event management group Himanshu Verma said, "PHL has started
on a very exciting note. The hockey being showcased is of the highest
level. All foreign players have jelled extremely well with their respective
teams and the high scoring exciting matches are bound to attract more
crowds to PHL as we go along. Judging from the first year's response,
we are confident that the PHL will become the most awaited event in
India's sports calendar."
"We welcome Western Union as teams' sponsor on PHL. Both Shers
and Dynamos have been performing very well. By coming on as a sponsor
early on, Western Union will hugely benefit from the brand equity
created by the two teams. And Western Union's joint marketing initiatives
will certainly help in growing both, the popularity of the teams
and the game of hockey," Verma added.
Sher-e-Jallandhar captain Gagan Ajit Singh said, "I am absolutely
delighted on the sponsorship and thank Western Union on behalf of
my team for coming forward in helping the game. We play with complete
commitment and for the love of the game. If companies come forward
and support the game in terms of sponsorship, it works as additional
encouragement. Games attracting sponsorship also symbolizes growing
popularity for the game and helps a lot in attracting fresh talent
to the sport."
Western Union will also be launching a nation wide marketing campaign
to promote the two teams. This will be a multimedia campaign comprising
press, television and merchandising. There will be special focus
on Punjab where Western Union is present across 2500 locations in
over 240 towns.
"It evokes a feeling of belonging and it is indeed a great
honor for Western Union to be associated with Punjabi hockey for
the first time ever. We are happy and proud to be a connected with
Punjab on one more level, through our national game," added
Garodia.
PHL is a result of over three years of hard labour put in by the
IHF, ESPN STAR Sports and Leisure Sports Management (LSM). ESPN
STAR Sports has been entrusted with the key role of marketing, producing
and broadcasting PHL for the next ten years.
PHL will offer total prize money of Rs 7.1 million. The winner
of the Tier I will take home Rs 3 million, while the runners up
will carry Rs 1 million. The winner of Tier II will get Rs 400,000
while the runner up will receive Rs 250,000.
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