Sports-From batting to bowling: India's Kohli invests in World Bowling League
NEW DELHI :The proposed World Bowling League has received a major boost after marquee India cricketer Virat Kohli came on board as a strategic investor on Wednesday.
Apart from being the leading name in international cricket, Kohli is a social media phenomenon and the third-most followed athlete on Instagram behind footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
"The World Bowling League (WBL) is pleased to announce cricketing icon Virat Kohli as a strategic investor in the league, igniting a bold new chapter to elevate the sport of bowling," the league organisers said in a statement.
Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts bought the first announced team in the WBL, which is yet to announce the franchises and schedule of the first event of the league featuring mixed-gender teams.
"I started bowling when I was 11 years old, spinning the ball by 12," the 36-year-old Kohli said in a statement issued by League Sports Co., the owner of WBL.
"It is evident how popular the sport is while being under-appreciated as a business proposition."
"I'm thrilled to join the WBL as an investor and partner."
Kohli owns a team in the E1 World Championship power-boat series and has a stake in Indian Super League soccer team FC Goa.
"When I discovered Virat is also a bowler, it was exciting to align on this new-age vision for the sport," said Adi K. Mishra, founder and CEO of League Sports Co.
"Every week, we uncover more about bowling's global depth and fascinating history - it's a sleeping giant we're ready to awaken."
Former India captain Kohli, who plays in the Indian Premier League, retired from test cricket earlier this month and now only features in internationals in the 50-overs format.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
20 minutes ago
- CNA
South Korea to minimise impact of 50% tariff on steel products, ministry says
SEOUL : South Korea's Industry Ministry said on Monday it will actively respond to the looming 50 per cent U.S. tariff on steel products as part of the country's ongoing trade discussions with Washington in order to minimise the impact on industry. The ministry held an emergency meeting with officials from the country's major steelmakers, including POSCO and Hyundai Steel, it said in a statement. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he planned to increase tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50 per cent from 25 per cent, ratcheting up pressure on global steel producers and deepening his trade war. Shares of South Korean steelmakers lost ground on Monday, with Hyundai Steel falling 3 per cent and SeAH Steel Corp down 6.3 per cent in morning trade.
CNA
26 minutes ago
- CNA
Asia Tonight - Sat 31 May 2025
46:05 Min Asia Tonight About the show: Top stories of the day with 'live' reports and interviews to keep you up-to-date on what's happening in one of the most dynamic regions of the world. Daily at 8pm (SIN / HK)
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
S Korea factory activity shrinks again, new orders suffer steepest slump in 5 years, PMI shows
SEOUL : South Korea's factory activity shrank for a fourth month in May as frail domestic demand and the impact of U.S. tariffs took a heavy toll on factory output while overall orders plunged at their steepest pace in five years, a business survey showed on Monday. The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for manufacturers in Asia's fourth-largest economy, released by S&P Global, edged up to 47.7 in May, from 47.5 in April. The index has stayed below 50-mark, which separates expansion from contraction, since February. "South Korea's manufacturing sector came into May on an unstable footing," said Usamah Bhatti, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. "Firms often mentioned that the contraction was attributed to a continuing stagnation in the domestic economy, as well the continued impact of higher U.S. tariffs on the home market as well as on key export markets." New orders suffered their steepest contraction since June 2020 while output fell at the quickest rate in just over two-and-a-half years. U.S. President Donald Trump's global trade war has added to already weak demand conditions in South Korea, which recently suffered its worst wildfires on record and has faced political turmoil. The trade-reliant economy unexpectedly contracted in the first quarter, raising pressure on policymakers to shore up demand. The Bank of Korea on Thursday cut rates for the fourth time in its current easing cycle and almost halved this year's economic outlook to 0.8 per cent, just days ahead of a presidential election slated for June 3, citing downside risks from U.S. tariff policy as well as a sluggish construction sector. The PMI survey also showed a fall in backlogs of work for the second month, with the most pronounced depletion in nearly five years in the face of subdued new orders. On a brighter note, manufacturers turned optimistic, reversing the brief spell of negative sentiment in April, partly led by hopes of an easing in global trade tensions. However, the degree of confidence was modest and reflected persistent concerns over the impact of tariffs.
