Mumbai: Sports brand Puma India has partnered with Bumble, the women-first dating app, to launch a singles-only running event. This collaboration merges sport and dating, offering young adults a new way to meet in person ahead of Singles’ Day (11 November).
Targeting ages 21–35, the three km run will take place in Bengaluru on 10 November, starting at Nexus Koramangala mall and ending with a social mixer for runners to connect.
With sports becoming a key factor in social connections, a recent Bumble survey found 72 per cent of Indians are open to a sports-themed first date, and 44 per cent consider a lack of interest in sports a dealbreaker. Puma and Bumble are combining their strengths—Puma’s focus on running and Bumble’s commitment to fostering connections—to create a unique experience.
Puma India MD Karthik Balagopalan said, “At Puma India, we are committed to looking for novel ways of engaging with our young consumers and bringing them together through the power of sport. Finding a like-minded partner in Bumble, who shares our vision of creating unique properties for youngsters to meet and connect, is exciting. We strongly believe that the running community is a great opportunity for people to meet, jointly experience the thrill of this fantastic sport and make new memories. Together with Bumble, we have created a differentiated meeting experience that is all about movement, energy, and in turn foster a vibrant running community in the country. We can’t wait for everyone to see what we have planned together for the run and the year ahead.”
Bumble India senior marketing manager Pracheta Mazumdar said, “With the growth of sports documentaries and international competitions, sports is playing a bigger role in how we connect so it’s not surprising that it’s also showing up in a big way in dating. Our research shows that for 1 in 3 single Indians, a shared love of sports has now become a ‘must have’ regardless of whether they actively participate in sports or just watch it. This reflects a changing approach amongst singles to fit their dating life into their personal lives, focusing on turning what they already enjoy into a date instead of treating dates as a separate activity. We’re excited to partner with Puma India to bring this to life with a singles run that allows our Bumble community to meet like-minded people in a relaxed and fun setting, reducing the pressures often associated with dating.“
Havas Media Network India CEO Mohit Joshi said, “We at Havas have always believed in fostering meaningful connections through our meaningful media ethos. This collaboration between Puma India and Bumble – two extremely popular youth-oriented global brands for the singles-only run is a testament to the human need for connection and companionship. The stage is set for singles to bond through this unique platform, which is a delightful mix of fitness and fun. This collaboration is just what is needed to bring in a spirit of freshness and community building in the lives of youngsters who will be participating in the run.”
Puma India has been actively promoting running as a sport, supporting key events like the Vedanta Delhi Half-Marathon, Ladakh Marathon, quarterly Nitro 5k and 10k runs, and weekly training sessions in cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai, led by Puma India run coaches. This partnership with Bumble marks the start of more experiences designed to inspire connection through sport and running.
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