Kia India Signs on as Exclusive Title Sponsor for Tennis Premier League for Three Years

Kia India has signed up as exclusive title sponsor for the Tennis Premier League for three years. In addition to a new logo, Kia will be integrated across the TPL’s public-facing branding, including the TPL ppp and the fronts of all eight franchise teams’ jerseys.

The Korean carmaker will also support TPL’s “Race to Gold” mentorship programme, which has so far nurtured over 80 young tennis players across India. The two companies announced a target of sponsoring and training over 120 additional young players, with the long-term goal of nurturing Olympic-level talent.

The move was announced at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday, by TPL co-founders Kunal Thakkur and Mrunal Jain, along with Kia India SVP of Sales and Marketing, Atul Sood.

“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. 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,” Sood said at the event.

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Indian tennis legend Leander Paes, a supporter of the Tennis Premier League since its inception, also spoke at the event about his 30-year history playing the game and coaching young talent. He said “Partnerships like this with Kia India are extremely important for the future of Indian tennis, as they bring long-term vision, credibility, and meaningful support to the ecosystem.”

Internationally, Kia has a decades-long association with the Australian Open. The company says it hopes its tieup with TPL can help expand the reach of tennis, boosting participation and engagement with newer audiences across India, especially the youth. Kia’s involvement is an endorsement of TPL’s credibility and mass appeal, while giving it a closer association with India’s sporting culture, according to both companies. 

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Founded in 2018 to promote tennis talent at the local level, the TPL has held seven seasons so far and has grown to attract international players and is now broadcast in multiple countries. In late 2025, JioHotstar acquired the rights to livestream all season 7-9 matches as well as highlights, features, and related programming, giving its reach and sponsor appeal a significant boost. Sony Sports Network holds the TV broadcast rights. In addition to Leander Paes, the franchise has the backing of star power including tennis veterans Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, as well as actresses Sonali Bendre Behl and Rakul Preet Singh who co-own teams. TPL expects the new partnership with Kia to help it scale up the reach of tennis across India even more.

Kunal Thakkur, co-founder, Tennis Premier League, said “Having a global brand like Kia India recognise and back this vision gives us the confidence to scale our efforts and truly impact the future of Indian tennis." Mrunal Jain, fo-founder, added “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."