ET first reported that UKK has already signed corporate giants Adani Group and GMR Group as the owners of Gujarat and Telangana franchises.
KLO Sports is co-owned by Sanjay Jupudi and Srinath Chittoori, who have business interests in construction, automobile, and IT sectors. They have decided to name their team as Chennai Quick Guns.
Capri Global Group, a leading financial service conglomerate, is yet to name the franchise.
“We are thrilled to welcome KLO Sports and Capri Global to the league’s roster which already has eminent corporate names. With this league, we are committed to bringing in a modern-day professional structure in India that not only will take Kho Kho to the next level, but also create a spectacle for the fans,” said Tenzing Niyogi, CEO, UKK.
The league is promoted by Amit Burman, chairman of
Group, in collaboration with Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI).
“Our goal is to help Kho Kho become a mainstream sport in India. We believe that the franchise has huge potential, and it can bring a rather forgotten sport back into every household. Apart from investing in the grassroots, KLO sports will also invest heavily in building a platform that will engage with fans and will become a role model for all sports franchises,” said Sanjay Jupudi, co-owner, KLO Sports and founder of Qentelli.
“We want to be part of the overall sports eco-system that promotes homegrown sports and plays the role of an enabler in India’s journey to become a leading sporting nation,” said Rajesh Sharma, MD, Capri Global. “Kho Kho is one of the most accessible sports in the country and is played by a large population at every skill level. Our goal amongst others is to facilitate training at the grassroots level. We are excited to associate with Ultimate Kho Kho from the very beginning. Personally, I am very passionate about sports and truly believe that India has humongous talent, they just need to be nurtured efficiently.”
Capri Global also possesses a franchise in the upcoming UAE T20 league promoted by the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB).
Ultimate Kho Kho has also roped in Sony Pictures Network India (SPN) as its broadcast partner with an exclusive multi-year contract.
