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English clubs should try and be more involved with the Indian market, writes our correspondent in India, Rahul Gill of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. It would be a win-win situation for both parties with India lacking a successful domestic league. 72 million homes have cable TV and can see the Premiership. India has more homes with cable TV than the whole of Europe combined. India also had a record number of viewers for the last World Cup, indicating the potential in the market. On his recent visit, Chelsea's Peter Kenyon talked to AIFF officials and announced that the club would tour India. The Indian club Mahindra United has had proposals from Arsenal and Liverpool for small training camps for coaches. Benefits of the Indian market could be obtained because of the large size of the Indian commumity in England. When Leicester were in the Premiership they were linked with the Indian club East Bengal to appeal to the large Indian community in Leicester. Our correspondents asks whether it is lack of awareness about the Indian market that explains the relative lack of attention? Another explanation would focus on the mass popularity of other sports, particularly cricket, in India.
One club that has made steps in this part of Asia is Arsenal, which has announced an initiative intended to give it a foothold in India. The club is to set up a football tournament and coaching programmes in partnership with Tata Tea, the beverage unit of the Tata conglomerate. It is also considering establishing a football academy in the country.
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