Kia India and Tennis Premier League have announced a three year partnership, with Kia India joining as the exclusive sponsor of the league. The partnership brings together Kia India’s long running association with tennis and TPL’s efforts to expand the sport’s reach and visibility in India.
As per the brand, the collaboration marks a major commercial partnership for Indian tennis, with Kia India set to be integrated across the TPL ecosystem, including the TPL App and all eight franchise teams as the front of jersey sponsor. The association will also support grassroots tennis initiatives and talent development programmes linked to the league.
Kia India has been associated with global tennis through its 25 year partnership with the Australian Open and has previously focused on youth driven and participation based initiatives around the sport. Through this partnership, the company aims to expand engagement with tennis audiences in India and support the sport’s long term growth.
The Tennis Premier League, held under the aegis of the All India Tennis Association, has completed seven seasons and features support from ambassadors including Leander Paes and Sania Mirza. Celebrity team owners associated with the league include Sonali Bendre and Rakul Preet Singh.
According to the league, its ‘Race to Gold Scholarship’ initiative has supported more than 80 young tennis players over the last two years. With Kia India’s backing, TPL plans to extend support to over 120 additional athletes in the coming years, with a long term focus on developing Olympic level tennis talent ahead of the 2036 Olympics.
Atul Sood, Senior Vice President- Sales and Marketing, Kia India, said, “At Kia India, we believe sports have the power to inspire aspirations and create meaningful cultural connections. Tennis, with its youthful energy, global appeal, and premium character, strongly resonates with our brand philosophy.”
He further added, “Our partnership with Tennis Premier League reflects a shared vision to make tennis more engaging and relevant for a new generation of audiences in India. Through TPL’s growing ecosystem and grassroots focus, we look forward to supporting greater participation, engagement, and talent development around the sport.”
Kunal Thakkur, Co-Founder, Tennis Premier League, said, “This partnership with Kia India is a great moment for us. Over the last few years, we have focused deeply on building a strong grassroots ecosystem through our app and initiatives like Race to Gold along with our League. Having a global brand like Kia India recognize and back this vision gives us the confidence to scale our efforts and truly impact the future of Indian tennis.”
Mrunal Jain, Co-Founder, Tennis Premier League, said, “TPL has always believed in creating a complete tennis ecosystem from identifying young talent to giving them a platform at the highest level. With Kia India coming on board, we are not just adding a sponsor; we are gaining a long-term partner who shares our vision of building champions for India.”
Leander Paes, 18-time Grand Slam Champion, said, “Over the years, Tennis Premier League has created a strong platform that is helping tennis grow at every level from grassroots development to professional competition. Partnerships like this with Kia India is extremely important for the future of Indian tennis, as they bring long-term vision, credibility, and meaningful support to the ecosystem.
