Nivia Sports

Nivia Sports
Company typePrivate
Nivia
IndustrySports equipment, textile
Founded1934; 90 years ago (1934)
FounderNihal Chand Kharabanda
Headquarters
Jalandhar
,
India
Area served
World Wide
Key people
  • Vijay Kharabanda
    (Chairman & managing director; 1940–2017)
  • Rajesh Kharabanda
    (managing director)
ProductsSports Shoes, Sports Balls and more
BrandsNivia
Number of employees
2000
Websitehttps://niviasports.com

Nivia Sports is an Indian sports equipment manufacturing industry founded in 1934 at Sialkot. It was named Freewill Sports Pvt Ltd.[1] Later the company shifted to Mumbai and finally headquartered in Jalandhar, Punjab, India which designs and manufactures sports equipment, accessories, and sportswear including athletic clothes, and footwear.[2][3] It has been the official ball partner for many national and international leagues and tournaments including Indian Super League,[4] The Basketball Federation of India,[5] All India Football Federation,[6] Volleyball Federation of India,[7][8] Sri Lanka Super League,[9] and Premier Handball League (PHL).[10] Nivia's basketball has received certification from FIBA, the International Basketball Federation.[11][12][13] Nivia Sports has established a strategic partnership with the Women's Handball League (WHL) to collaborate on initiatives that support the development of women's handball.[14][15][16] Nivia has been named the official ball partner for the Hero Indian Super League (ISL). This partnership designates Nivia Sports's Football Shastra 2.0 as the official ball for the league over a three-year period, starting with the 2024 season.[17][18] In June 2024, Nivia entered into a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Arunachal Pradesh Football Association (APFA), securing the role of exclusive provider for sportswear and footballs. Under the agreement, Nivia is tasked with supplying footballs and kits for national football championships and district-level events, totaling 1,030 footballs.[19]

Freewill Sports Pvt Ltd was founded in 1934 in Sialkot by Nihal Chand Kharabanda, who laid the groundwork for the company’s focus on sports equipment. In the subsequent years, his son, Vijay Kharabanda, joined the business, taking on management responsibilities and contributing to its development. It's listed in one of the top ten brands in sports industry in India.[20]

The brand name "Nivia" is a portmanteau created from the initial letters of the founders' names: "Ni" from Nihal and "Vi" from Vijay. This naming convention reflects the familial connection and continuity within the company. Over the years, Nivia has become known for its diverse range of sports products, emphasizing the legacy and vision established by its founders.[21]

  1. ^ Chengappa, C. C. (19 February 2021). "10 'Made in India' sports brands competing with global brands". thebridge.in. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Nivia Sports". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  3. ^ "About Nivia Sports". Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Hero ISL gets NIVIA as ball partner for 3 years". Indian Television Dot Com. 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  5. ^ Nair, Abhijit (18 October 2021). "Basketball Federation of India onboards Nivia as official ball partners". thebridge.in. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  6. ^ Nair, Abhijit (18 October 2021). "Basketball Federation of India onboards Nivia as official ball partners". thebridge.in. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  7. ^ "FIFA Pro certified NIVIA Ashtang is the Official Football for Hero Indian Super League". Mumbai Live. 21 August 2018. Archived from the original on 12 September 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  8. ^ Sarkar, Sattyik (8 October 2021). "ISL: Who are the kit makers for every Indian Super League club?". thebridge.in. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Chennaiyin FC signs Nivia as official kit partner". Deccan Herald. 9 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  10. ^ Sonawane, Akshay (7 June 2023). "Delhi Panzers sign the dotted lines with Nivia Sports". SportsMint Media. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  11. ^ Service, Tribune News. "Nivia's basketball gets FIBA certification". Tribuneindia News Service. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  12. ^ Chengappa, C. C. (19 February 2021). "10 'Made in India' sports brands competing with global brands". thebridge.in. Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  13. ^ Markets, Research and (4 April 2022). "India Sports Equipment and Apparel Market (2022–2027): Featuring Players Adidas, COSCO (India) Ltd, Nike and Sareen Sports Industries Among Others". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  14. ^ Khandelwal, Aashay (6 June 2024). "Women's Handball League partners with Nivia Sports to elevate the game in India". SportsMint Media. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Women's Handball League signs multi-year deal with Nivia Sports as official ball and kit sponsor". afaqs!. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Women's Handball League Inks a Multi-Year Deal with Nivia Sports as Official Ball and Kit Sponsor - Brand License". License India. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Hero ISL gets NIVIA as ball partner for 3 years". admin.indiantelevision.com. 20 August 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  18. ^ "ISL 2024-25 | OFFICIAL MATCH BALL by NIVIA SPORTS". www.indiansuperleague.com. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  19. ^ author (14 July 2024). "Nivia to partner with APFA | The Arunachal Times". Retrieved 15 October 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  20. ^ Bhatti, Ayushi (8 June 2022). "Top 10 Indian Sports Brands: An Amalgamation of Style & Wellness". Voice of Indian Sports - KreedOn. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  21. ^ Bhardwaj, Aakanksha N (20 June 2017). "Man who blazed a trail, gave sports industry a firm foothold". The Tribune. India. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2018.