India and New Zealand are taking another significant step towards deepening their sporting relationship as the Softball Association of India (SBAI) and Softball New Zealand (SNZ) sign a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at expanding cooperation in softball.
The partnership comes in a landmark year for both countries, as 2026 marks 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand, tracing their connection back to the historic 1926 tour of New Zealand by the Indian Army hockey team, which included legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand.
The MoU, signed at The Lalit in New Delhi, adds a new chapter to a sporting relationship that has evolved from hockey to a much broader exchange involving coaching, athlete development, sports science, high-performance training and youth participation.
The agreement also comes at a time when India-New Zealand relations are gaining fresh momentum across multiple sectors. The two countries concluded their Free Trade Agreement negotiations in a record nine months, reflecting what the governments of both countries described as strong political will and an ambition to deepen bilateral engagement. The FTA was formally signed in New Delhi on April 27, 2026.
Against this backdrop, the softball partnership provides another avenue for people-to-people connections and sports diplomacy between the two nations.
The MoU was formally signed by Dr Pravin Anaokar, Secretary General of the Softball Association of India, and Mr Jay Changlani, Board Member of Softball New Zealand. It will initially remain in force for four years.
The agreement focuses on seven strategic areas, including athlete development, coaching, technical officials, infrastructure, high-performance systems and grassroots participation.
From a century of hockey to new sporting opportunities
The partnership reflects the changing nature of India-New Zealand sporting ties. While hockey remains an important part of the shared history, both countries have increasingly explored cooperation across different sporting disciplines.
In March this year, India and New Zealand held high-level discussions on expanding bilateral sports cooperation, including joint training, coaching exchanges and knowledge-sharing in sports science and athlete performance systems.
The year-long 100 Years of Unity through Sport programme is also bringing Indian and New Zealand athletes together across cricket, football, lawn bowls and other sporting and community activities.
The new softball agreement builds on that momentum.
Three key initiatives under the MoU
Speaking on the partnership, the leadership of the Softball Association of India said: "This is not just an MoU; it is a movement. For the first time, Indian Softball will have a direct pipeline to a world champion system. This partnership will be a game-changer for our youth, our Nari Shakti, and for emerging talent from every State and Union Territory of our country. This is the beginning of India's journey to become a global softball powerhouse."
The partnership is expected to strengthen sporting and cultural links between India and New Zealand while contributing to the development of softball internationally.
With the two countries marking a century of sporting connections in 2026, the agreement represents a shift from celebrating the history of India-New Zealand sport to building its next 100 years through wider sporting exchanges, athlete development and institutional partnerships.
Softball Association of India (SBAI) is the apex governing body for softball in India, working towards the development of the sport from grassroots participation to the elite level.
Softball New Zealand (SNZ) is the national governing body for softball in New Zealand and has established itself as one of the country's successful international sporting organisations.