Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty buys minority stake in Panja League

Actor and entrepreneur Suniel Shetty has picked up a minority stake in Professional Panja League, knowledgeable arm-wrestling event launched by movie star couple Parvin Dabas and Preeti Jhangiani by way of their firm Panja Sports activities.

“I’m on board with Professional Panja League as an fairness accomplice on the group degree,” Shetty informed ET. “My shareholding will probably be within the single digits.”

Professional Panja League was based in 2020. The inaugural season of the event, that includes six groups, kicked off on July 28 on the IGI Stadium in New Delhi. The event is being telecast on Sony Sports activities channels, whereas Dream Sports activities-owned FanCode is live-streaming it.

Shetty, who has invested in a number of startups, mentioned arm wrestling has large potential in India because it’s an indigenous grassroots sport with a really low entry barrier and is TV-friendly.

“Arm wrestling is actually an Indian sport through which each women and men can take part,” Shetty mentioned. “The infrastructure required for the game may be very minimal. It is usually a TV-friendly sport. It’ll generate a variety of pleasure as a result of the outcomes are assured.”

Dabas mentioned Shetty’s affiliation with Professional Panja League will probably be a draw for the general public. “We’re marrying sports activities and leisure with the Professional Panja League,” he mentioned.In line with Dabas, Panja Sports activities will make investments Rs 20 crore within the league within the first two years.The primary 12 months will probably be extra about capturing viewers’ consideration than producing income, he mentioned. “We wish to set up the league within the first 12 months. Huge-ticket sponsors will are available as soon as the league has sufficient eyeballs,” Dabas mentioned.

He additionally mentioned that Professional Panja League franchise homeowners will break even within the third or fourth 12 months, for the reason that money burn may be very low. Every franchise proprietor must make investments Rs 2.25-2.5 crore yearly.

Dabas mentioned the league had already constructed a powerful on-line group. “We had 270 million views on our social media channels within the final 10 months,” he mentioned.

Panja Sports activities goals to organise standalone tournaments all year long to construct the game on the grassroots degree.