India’s Pro Kabaddi League has agreed a title sponsorship deal with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo.
The five-year contract commences with the 2017 Pro Kabaddi League season, which begins in July.
Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the Hindustan Times newspaper reported that the deal would be worth Rs 300 crore (€42.6m/$46.5m). The league said that the agreement represents the biggest non-cricket sports sponsorship deal in India.
This year’s Pro Kabaddi League will comprise up to 12 teams and will feature more than 130 matches spread across 13 weeks.
Kent Cheng, chief executive of Vivo India, said: “This association is important for us as Pro Kabaddi League has reached incredible heights and now proudly stands as one of the most successful leagues in India.
“Earlier seasons have shown that kabaddi is a sport whose popularity cuts across all audiences. With this association, Vivo aims to target the right audience and capture the hearts of Indians. We would like to wish Pro Kabaddi league huge success for the years to come.”
Vivo also serves as the current title sponsor of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket competition.