They are aiming to bring the Coupe de la Ligue to India- Arvind Poddar

Mumbai-based company BKT Tires are title sponsors of the French League Cup.

Foreign investors are seemingly not shying away from foraying into Indian football, with Ligue 1, the latest to be linked to this unexplored market. In an interview with The Quint, BKT Tires Chairman Arvind Poddar revealed that French top-tier or Coupe de la Ligue could soon be associated with an Indian football entity.

The Mumbai-based company are the title sponsors of the French League Cup.

Poddar stated, "LFP officials have already visited India. They are looking to associate with a league in the country."

Watch: The Quint's interview of Arvind Poddar

He further added, "Basically they are aiming to bring the Coupe de la Ligue to India. They are looking at various options. Although they have not made it clear yet about what they are going to do. Like whether they are going to tie-up with ISL."

 

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According to him, the officials have already had some meetings when they came for BKT-related work to India. Also, Poddar quipped, "When they come to India, we will also probably be one of the sponsors."

In 2018, BKT signed a six-year deal with LFP, changing the knockout competition's name to "Coupe de la Ligue BKT" till 2024. The deal is worth around reportedly €3m to be paid per season for six years. The 2018-19 title was won by Strasbourg, who edged past Guingamp in a penalty shootout.

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The company also have a sponsorship deal with Italy's second-tier Serie B, for the next three seasons. The league has been renamed as "Serie BKT".

BKT is a tire manufacturing company based in Mumbai. It manufactures off-highway tires used in segments like mining, agriculture, earthmoving and gardening. The company predominately caters to the markets in Europe and North America.