An interview with the owners of Kolkata Thunderbolts, Pawan and Sumedh Patodia

We recently had the opportunity to speak with the father-son duo looking after Prime Volleyball League (PVL) franchise Kolkata Thunderbolts. 

Pawan Patodia, who initially came up with the plan to own a side in the PVL before its inaugural season in 2022, is joined by his son, Sumedh, who, much like his father, is committed to the cause of building the team and pushing Indian volleyball ahead.

The pair discuss dealing with the pressures of early success that saw the Thunderbolts win the inaugural PVL season by defeating Ahmedabad Defenders in the final. They followed it up with another playoff qualification in the 2023 season.

Pawan takes us through his journey — from becoming an industrialist to stepping foot in the sports industry. He makes his feelings clear about what success means to him: the delight on the fans’ faces and ensuring that he’s left an impact on those watching, which means far more than any financial gain.

Sumedh runs us through some of the challenges the Thunderbolts have faced in on-boarding sponsors as he recalls the unending efforts of his team to bring in companies to help out in the franchise’s journey.

When asked about their favourite sports moment, the pair, true to form, couldn’t wait to bring up the Indian men’s volleyball team’s 3-2 win against South Korea at the Asian Games last year.