PANAJI: The Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), India’s first and only self-regulatory industry body for fantasy sports, today, announced the appointment of Joy Bhattacharjya as its Director-General. In this role, Bhattacharjya will oversee the functioning of the body and work with policymakers and industry stakeholders alike, states a press release.
Joy is a well-known figure in India’s sports & media entertainment industry and can be rightly hailed as the ‘Godfather of Fantasy Sports in India’. From designing India’s first ever fantasy sports game – the ‘Super Selector’ for ESPN Star Sports, to coming onboard FIFS – it is a perfect synergy.
Joy also runs the Prime Volleyball League and is a Cricket Analyst with Cricbuzz. As the Project Director for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, 2017, he delivered the most attended and successful junior tournament in the history of FIFA. In his earlier roles he has held the position of the Team Director for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Head of Programming for History & National Geographic channel for South Asia and was the first Indian Head of Production at ESPN Star Sports. Joy is an avid writer, having written for the likes of TOI, India Today, BBC, The Telegraph & the Hindustan Times, has a regular quiz column with the Hindu Business Line and also writes on sport for the Economic Times.
Commenting on the appointment, Bimal Julka, Chairman of FIFS, said, “Happy to have Mr. Joy Bhattacharjya join FIFS as the Director-General. FIFS will benefit from his sports expertise and knowledge of fantasy sports.”
Talking about his appointment, Joy Bhattacharjya said, “I am elated to be a part of the next stage of development of Fantasy Sports in the country. It’s a homecoming for me in a way, from launching the Super Selector in 2000, to now leading FIFS – India’s only SRO for Fantasy Sports. I look forward to working with the FIFS members and the stakeholders at large and help FIFS identify the landscape and potential for India to be the global leader in the Fantasy Sports sector.”
