New Delhi: The Softball Association of India (SBAI) and Softball New Zealand (SNZ) have signed a four-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening softball development, coaching and international competition in both countries. The agreement was signed at Hotel The Lalit in New Delhi by Jay Changlani, Board Member of Softball New Zealand, and Dr Pravin Anaokar, Secretary General of the Softball Association of India. Senior SBAI office-bearers, including Waseem Raja Khan, Shibani Tagore and Vijay Gaur, were also present. The partnership will focus on athlete development, coaching, technical officials’ training, grassroots programmes, sports science, infrastructure and high-performance systems.
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A key feature of the agreement is the proposed Indo-New Zealand Softball Series, which will be hosted alternately in India and New Zealand. The series is expected to provide Indian players with greater international exposure and regular opportunities to compete against quality opposition. Softball New Zealand will also extend high-performance coaching support to India’s senior, junior and women’s national teams, bringing international expertise into the country’s development programmes.
The two organisations will additionally collaborate on grassroots clinics and training programmes for umpires and scorers. Special focus will be given to youth and women’s development through initiatives covering schools, colleges and universities. SBAI described the agreement as more than a formal partnership, calling it a direct international pathway for emerging Indian talent. The collaboration is expected to strengthen India’s softball ecosystem while deepening sporting ties between India and New Zealand, with both federations aiming to create sustainable opportunities for athletes and officials at multiple levels.
