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Category: Sports

  • Rio medalists Sakshi Malik, Marwa Amri bout keenly awaited

    Rio medalists Sakshi Malik, Marwa Amri bout keenly awaited

    MUMBAI: Colors Delhi Sultans will face Haryana Hammers in the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

    However, in the second season of Patanjali Powervita Pro Wrestling League encounter, all eyes will be set on the fight between Sakshi Malik and Marwa Amri in the 58 kg category bout. Live telecast can be seen on Sony Max and Sony ESPN. You can catch the online streaming of the event on the Sony website as well.

    While Sakshi became the first Indian women wrestler to win an Olympic medal, Marwa created history as she was first women medalist from her country Tunisia. It makes the tussle between two wrestling icons more interesting.

    Both grapplers are yet unbeaten in the league. However, being a marquee player Sakshi has got more opportunities and playing like a champion she never let her opponents to score a point in her both bouts. First she defeated Jaipur Ninja’s Pooja Dhanda and later outmuscled national champion Manju. On the other hand, Marwa has got just one bout, in which he has performed impressively.

    Meanwhile, Sakshi’s fiancé Satyavart Kadian, who has registered a massive 14-4 win over Krishan Kumar of NCR Punjab Royals, will face a tough challenge from former world champion Abdusalam Gladisov.

    Welcoming news for Delhi is that their Mongolian grappler Erdenebat Bekhbayar in 57kg and Indian grappler Bajrang Punia in 65kg are now completely fit and will be crucial against Haryana. Even in 74kg weight category, Praveen Rana has better record than his counterpart Sumit Sehrawat.

    Amongst women, Rio Olympic silver medalist Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan and Alina Makhynia of Ukraine possess a good challenge against their weaker opponents. Mariya will face Indu Choudhary while Alina will take on Kiran in 75kg category.

    The challenging bout will be in 53kg category between Sofia Mattsson and Sangeeta Phogat, along with bout between World champion Magomed Kurbanaliev and David Tlashadze of Georgia in 70kg.

    Delhi team co-owner Anurag Batra and Gaur Gupta are confident about Sakshi’s win. “She is a champion. She has not just raised India’s reputation at the international level but has also given a new direction to women in her country to follow their dreams,” they said.

    On the other Haryana team’s co-owner is of opinion that their team is in full swing and no one can stop them now. “We have a current world champion, a former world champion, an Olympic silver medalist and one bronze medalist. We are the title contenders for sure,” he said.

  • Rio medalists Sakshi Malik, Marwa Amri bout keenly awaited

    Rio medalists Sakshi Malik, Marwa Amri bout keenly awaited

    MUMBAI: Colors Delhi Sultans will face Haryana Hammers in the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

    However, in the second season of Patanjali Powervita Pro Wrestling League encounter, all eyes will be set on the fight between Sakshi Malik and Marwa Amri in the 58 kg category bout. Live telecast can be seen on Sony Max and Sony ESPN. You can catch the online streaming of the event on the Sony website as well.

    While Sakshi became the first Indian women wrestler to win an Olympic medal, Marwa created history as she was first women medalist from her country Tunisia. It makes the tussle between two wrestling icons more interesting.

    Both grapplers are yet unbeaten in the league. However, being a marquee player Sakshi has got more opportunities and playing like a champion she never let her opponents to score a point in her both bouts. First she defeated Jaipur Ninja’s Pooja Dhanda and later outmuscled national champion Manju. On the other hand, Marwa has got just one bout, in which he has performed impressively.

    Meanwhile, Sakshi’s fiancé Satyavart Kadian, who has registered a massive 14-4 win over Krishan Kumar of NCR Punjab Royals, will face a tough challenge from former world champion Abdusalam Gladisov.

    Welcoming news for Delhi is that their Mongolian grappler Erdenebat Bekhbayar in 57kg and Indian grappler Bajrang Punia in 65kg are now completely fit and will be crucial against Haryana. Even in 74kg weight category, Praveen Rana has better record than his counterpart Sumit Sehrawat.

    Amongst women, Rio Olympic silver medalist Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan and Alina Makhynia of Ukraine possess a good challenge against their weaker opponents. Mariya will face Indu Choudhary while Alina will take on Kiran in 75kg category.

    The challenging bout will be in 53kg category between Sofia Mattsson and Sangeeta Phogat, along with bout between World champion Magomed Kurbanaliev and David Tlashadze of Georgia in 70kg.

    Delhi team co-owner Anurag Batra and Gaur Gupta are confident about Sakshi’s win. “She is a champion. She has not just raised India’s reputation at the international level but has also given a new direction to women in her country to follow their dreams,” they said.

    On the other Haryana team’s co-owner is of opinion that their team is in full swing and no one can stop them now. “We have a current world champion, a former world champion, an Olympic silver medalist and one bronze medalist. We are the title contenders for sure,” he said.

  • How to save crores from awful sports outfields

    How to save crores from awful sports outfields

    BENGALURU: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has generally been early adopters of technology in the country. Going one up, the association that has its own cricket league series has installed the first drainage system on a cricket field at the famed Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. The KSCA bigwigs say that the system is next-generation subsurface aeration and vacuum-powered drainage system from SubAir, USA at Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bangalore), making it the first ever installation of such a technology for cricket stadiums worldwide.

    KSCA VP Sudhakar Rao said, “This is KSCA’s latest project in our constant endeavor to introduce cutting edge technologies in the interest of the game and the fans. Everyone understands that when it rains, it is an act of God…but once it stops raining, it will be inexcusable to delay or cancel a game due to a wet outfield. With this high-tech solution from SubAir, fastest resumption of the game is now possible.”

    “Match called off / delayed at Chinnaswamy Stadium due to wet outfield”. This headline which appeared quite often will soon be a thing of the past. Welcome to the next-generation cricket outfield say the officials. A demonstration involving a small section of the field with about 5,000 litres of water showed the drainage system drain off the water in less than a minute. SubAir is looking at ways to minimise due once day-night test matches start.

    KSCA spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya said, “This technology makes tremendous economic and financial sense for KSCA and many games will be saved in the future”.

    The system at about Rs 5 crore is not too expensive when one considers the crores of rupees that include television ad and other revenues that are lost due to just one match being called off due to wet outfields. Probably just the entry ticket revenue of a couple of matches will be enough to pay off for complete installation including revamping of the field.

    KSCA VP Sanjay Desai further added, “Fan experience is our primary objective. Additionally, there is a risk of Rs 80-100 crore (US$ 12-15 Million) when a game gets washed out including losses to the paying public, the TV Broadcasters and advertisers, in-stadia advertisers etc. We believe we have addressed this challenge with the SubAir System”.

    Great Sports Infra managing director Anil Kumar said, “We are glad to provide the SubAir aeration and water evacuation technology to KSCA, which will make it the most modern outfield in the cricketing world. Considering that millions of dollars are at risk when a match gets cancelled due to a wet outfield, KSCA has shown great vision in pioneering the use of this next generation technology. Many other cricket stadiums are now interested in adopting the same for their modernization plans.”

    SubAir Sr VP Kevin Crowe said, “SubAir has proven itself across various sports like Baseball, Soccer, Rugby, Golf etc. This system is used at some of the best stadiums worldwide including Wembley (UK), New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, BMO Field (Canada), Etihad Stadium (Manchester City) etc., and has over 500 installations. It has also been used for the NFL, 2014 FIFA World Cup (Brazil) and would also be in use in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia (2018).”

    Currently there is no scientific measurement of actionable data related to salinity, temperature and moisture content. The SubAir system acquires data from all over the field through embedded wireless sensors and then takes appropriate corrective action keeping the field healthy and in optimal conditions, fostering stronger roots and turf.

  • How to save crores from awful sports outfields

    How to save crores from awful sports outfields

    BENGALURU: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has generally been early adopters of technology in the country. Going one up, the association that has its own cricket league series has installed the first drainage system on a cricket field at the famed Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. The KSCA bigwigs say that the system is next-generation subsurface aeration and vacuum-powered drainage system from SubAir, USA at Chinnaswamy Stadium (Bangalore), making it the first ever installation of such a technology for cricket stadiums worldwide.

    KSCA VP Sudhakar Rao said, “This is KSCA’s latest project in our constant endeavor to introduce cutting edge technologies in the interest of the game and the fans. Everyone understands that when it rains, it is an act of God…but once it stops raining, it will be inexcusable to delay or cancel a game due to a wet outfield. With this high-tech solution from SubAir, fastest resumption of the game is now possible.”

    “Match called off / delayed at Chinnaswamy Stadium due to wet outfield”. This headline which appeared quite often will soon be a thing of the past. Welcome to the next-generation cricket outfield say the officials. A demonstration involving a small section of the field with about 5,000 litres of water showed the drainage system drain off the water in less than a minute. SubAir is looking at ways to minimise due once day-night test matches start.

    KSCA spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya said, “This technology makes tremendous economic and financial sense for KSCA and many games will be saved in the future”.

    The system at about Rs 5 crore is not too expensive when one considers the crores of rupees that include television ad and other revenues that are lost due to just one match being called off due to wet outfields. Probably just the entry ticket revenue of a couple of matches will be enough to pay off for complete installation including revamping of the field.

    KSCA VP Sanjay Desai further added, “Fan experience is our primary objective. Additionally, there is a risk of Rs 80-100 crore (US$ 12-15 Million) when a game gets washed out including losses to the paying public, the TV Broadcasters and advertisers, in-stadia advertisers etc. We believe we have addressed this challenge with the SubAir System”.

    Great Sports Infra managing director Anil Kumar said, “We are glad to provide the SubAir aeration and water evacuation technology to KSCA, which will make it the most modern outfield in the cricketing world. Considering that millions of dollars are at risk when a match gets cancelled due to a wet outfield, KSCA has shown great vision in pioneering the use of this next generation technology. Many other cricket stadiums are now interested in adopting the same for their modernization plans.”

    SubAir Sr VP Kevin Crowe said, “SubAir has proven itself across various sports like Baseball, Soccer, Rugby, Golf etc. This system is used at some of the best stadiums worldwide including Wembley (UK), New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, BMO Field (Canada), Etihad Stadium (Manchester City) etc., and has over 500 installations. It has also been used for the NFL, 2014 FIFA World Cup (Brazil) and would also be in use in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Russia (2018).”

    Currently there is no scientific measurement of actionable data related to salinity, temperature and moisture content. The SubAir system acquires data from all over the field through embedded wireless sensors and then takes appropriate corrective action keeping the field healthy and in optimal conditions, fostering stronger roots and turf.

  • PWL: All eyes on Geeta-Marwa, Sandeep-Amit bouts

    PWL: All eyes on Geeta-Marwa, Sandeep-Amit bouts

    MUMBAI: After a solid start to the season, reigning defending champions Mumbai Maharathis in the inaugural match, the Haryana Hammers are upbeat for their next encounter against UP Dangal in the second season of Patanjali Powervita Pro Wrestling League (PWL) on Wednesday.

    It won’t be an easy affair for them, as the star-studded UP team includes Commonwealth gold medallist Geeta Phogat, Babita Kumari, Maria Mamashuk and marquee player Elitsa Yankova along with Amit Dahiya.

    The star encounters of the night will be the fights between Geeta and Marwa Amri, along with Sandeep Tomar and Amit Dahiya. On the other hand, Babita will be eager to repeat her performance same as in season-1, where she outshone World No 3 Ukraine grappler Tatyana Kit, who was representing Haryana then.

    After the release of Bollywood film – Dangal, all eyes are set on Geeta and Babita and they are expected to prove that they still have the same energy and aggression, which was portrayed in the film.

    Marwa Amri is in good form after beating Sarita in the first bout, and it will be a close battle when she will take on Geeta on the mat. The way Geeta had brought down World champion Oksana Herhel of Ukraine in the previous season, nothing is impossible for the Dhaakad girl.

    Haryana squad will also have Kiran (75kg), Indu Choudhary (48kg) and Sumit (74kg) take the mat but it all depends on the result between Andrey Kviatkovski and Rajneesh in men’s 65kg weight category.

    “Elitsa is world renowned player and has acclaimed various accolades, whereas we have a huge respect and feel proud for what Geeta has done till now. But having them both makes our team more balanced now,” said Sunny Katyal, UP Dangal team.

    Rio Olympics medallist Elitsa Yankova (48kg) and World championship silver medallist Abdusalam Gadisov are marquee players for UP and Haryana respectively.

  • PWL: All eyes on Geeta-Marwa, Sandeep-Amit bouts

    PWL: All eyes on Geeta-Marwa, Sandeep-Amit bouts

    MUMBAI: After a solid start to the season, reigning defending champions Mumbai Maharathis in the inaugural match, the Haryana Hammers are upbeat for their next encounter against UP Dangal in the second season of Patanjali Powervita Pro Wrestling League (PWL) on Wednesday.

    It won’t be an easy affair for them, as the star-studded UP team includes Commonwealth gold medallist Geeta Phogat, Babita Kumari, Maria Mamashuk and marquee player Elitsa Yankova along with Amit Dahiya.

    The star encounters of the night will be the fights between Geeta and Marwa Amri, along with Sandeep Tomar and Amit Dahiya. On the other hand, Babita will be eager to repeat her performance same as in season-1, where she outshone World No 3 Ukraine grappler Tatyana Kit, who was representing Haryana then.

    After the release of Bollywood film – Dangal, all eyes are set on Geeta and Babita and they are expected to prove that they still have the same energy and aggression, which was portrayed in the film.

    Marwa Amri is in good form after beating Sarita in the first bout, and it will be a close battle when she will take on Geeta on the mat. The way Geeta had brought down World champion Oksana Herhel of Ukraine in the previous season, nothing is impossible for the Dhaakad girl.

    Haryana squad will also have Kiran (75kg), Indu Choudhary (48kg) and Sumit (74kg) take the mat but it all depends on the result between Andrey Kviatkovski and Rajneesh in men’s 65kg weight category.

    “Elitsa is world renowned player and has acclaimed various accolades, whereas we have a huge respect and feel proud for what Geeta has done till now. But having them both makes our team more balanced now,” said Sunny Katyal, UP Dangal team.

    Rio Olympics medallist Elitsa Yankova (48kg) and World championship silver medallist Abdusalam Gadisov are marquee players for UP and Haryana respectively.

  • Sony Max, ESPN air PWL 2 live as Haryana Hammers dominate Mumbai Maharathi

    Sony Max, ESPN air PWL 2 live as Haryana Hammers dominate Mumbai Maharathi

    MUMBAI: A dominating performance by Haryana Hammers saw them register their first victory against defending champions Mumbai Maharathi on the opening day of the Pro Wrestling League Season 2 at the K D Jadhav Indoor Stadium here today. Present at the occasion were Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

    The second season’s live telecast can be seen on Sony Max and Sony ESPN. You can catch the online streaming of the event on the Sony website as well.

    Mumbai captain Erica Wiebe won the toss and blocked the 70kg Men’s category while Haryana chose to block the 48kg Women’s category. The first bout was fought between Rajneesh (Haryana Hammers) and Vikas Kumar (Mumbai Maharathi) in the 65 kg Men’s category. Rajneesh executed some skillful moves as he combined attack with defence cleverly to prevail over Vikas 7-2.

    The second bout for the 75 kg Women’s category was won by Mumbai, as they drew level with Haryana. Canadian Erica Wiebe, who won Gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics, led from the front as Haryana’s Kiran proved to be the weaker opponent. Erica won the bout by technical superiority as Kiran failed to score a single point compared to the Canadian’s 16.

    Haryana came back strongly in the third bout, as Russian Abdusalam Gadisov employed single leg attack and ankle hold takedowns to effectively score against his opponent, Ukraine’s Pavlo Oliinyk. Haryana secured a 2-1 lead by virtue of this victory.

    The fourth bout was contested in the 53 kg Women’s category as grapplers Sofia Mattsson from Sweden and India’s Lalita Sehrawat played an aggressive game. Although Lalita kept searching for points, Sofia who had earned a Bronze in the 2016 Olympics, prevailed over her and eventually won by Pin Fall.

    Even as Mumbai conceded a 1-3 lead in the tie, they tried to stage a comeback as Azerbaijan-born Jabrayil Hasanov outclassed his opponent Sumit Sehrawat, clinching the bout in Mumbai’s favour by virtue of technical superiority.

    Haryana Hammers took full advantage of the crucial sixth bout as Marwa Amri defeated Mumbai Maharathi’s Sarita 5-0. The Tunisian grappler showed full supremacy on the mat, as her technical acumen proved to be too good for Sarita. The 2016 Rio Olympics Bronze medalist clinched the tie with this victory, as Haryana took an unassailable 4-2 lead.

    The final bout of the tie saw some explosive action with Mumbai’s Rahul Aware completely dominating over his opponent Sandeep Tomar from Haryana. Although Sandeep had an early 3-point advantage, Rahul came from behind to display a series of well-executed takedowns to win the bout 14-5. Rahul’s brilliant effort went in vain, as Haryana won the game by a 4-3 margin.

    Speaking after the match, a delighted Haryana Hammers Co-Owner Golden Behl said: ” I believe Rahul Aware and Sandeep Tomar was the most exciting match of the days but of course we were looking forward to Sandeep’s win. But in the end, it’s a game and things change within fraction of seconds. We came with a target of 5-2 win but we are surely not disappointed with a 4-3 victory on the first day of PWL.”

    Haryana Hammers player Abdusalam Gadisov said: “I believe our team is a great mix of some great Indian and international wrestlers and the performance on the first day has been great so far. Look forward to some more exciting matches in the coming days.

  • Sony Max, ESPN air PWL 2 live as Haryana Hammers dominate Mumbai Maharathi

    Sony Max, ESPN air PWL 2 live as Haryana Hammers dominate Mumbai Maharathi

    MUMBAI: A dominating performance by Haryana Hammers saw them register their first victory against defending champions Mumbai Maharathi on the opening day of the Pro Wrestling League Season 2 at the K D Jadhav Indoor Stadium here today. Present at the occasion were Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

    The second season’s live telecast can be seen on Sony Max and Sony ESPN. You can catch the online streaming of the event on the Sony website as well.

    Mumbai captain Erica Wiebe won the toss and blocked the 70kg Men’s category while Haryana chose to block the 48kg Women’s category. The first bout was fought between Rajneesh (Haryana Hammers) and Vikas Kumar (Mumbai Maharathi) in the 65 kg Men’s category. Rajneesh executed some skillful moves as he combined attack with defence cleverly to prevail over Vikas 7-2.

    The second bout for the 75 kg Women’s category was won by Mumbai, as they drew level with Haryana. Canadian Erica Wiebe, who won Gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics, led from the front as Haryana’s Kiran proved to be the weaker opponent. Erica won the bout by technical superiority as Kiran failed to score a single point compared to the Canadian’s 16.

    Haryana came back strongly in the third bout, as Russian Abdusalam Gadisov employed single leg attack and ankle hold takedowns to effectively score against his opponent, Ukraine’s Pavlo Oliinyk. Haryana secured a 2-1 lead by virtue of this victory.

    The fourth bout was contested in the 53 kg Women’s category as grapplers Sofia Mattsson from Sweden and India’s Lalita Sehrawat played an aggressive game. Although Lalita kept searching for points, Sofia who had earned a Bronze in the 2016 Olympics, prevailed over her and eventually won by Pin Fall.

    Even as Mumbai conceded a 1-3 lead in the tie, they tried to stage a comeback as Azerbaijan-born Jabrayil Hasanov outclassed his opponent Sumit Sehrawat, clinching the bout in Mumbai’s favour by virtue of technical superiority.

    Haryana Hammers took full advantage of the crucial sixth bout as Marwa Amri defeated Mumbai Maharathi’s Sarita 5-0. The Tunisian grappler showed full supremacy on the mat, as her technical acumen proved to be too good for Sarita. The 2016 Rio Olympics Bronze medalist clinched the tie with this victory, as Haryana took an unassailable 4-2 lead.

    The final bout of the tie saw some explosive action with Mumbai’s Rahul Aware completely dominating over his opponent Sandeep Tomar from Haryana. Although Sandeep had an early 3-point advantage, Rahul came from behind to display a series of well-executed takedowns to win the bout 14-5. Rahul’s brilliant effort went in vain, as Haryana won the game by a 4-3 margin.

    Speaking after the match, a delighted Haryana Hammers Co-Owner Golden Behl said: ” I believe Rahul Aware and Sandeep Tomar was the most exciting match of the days but of course we were looking forward to Sandeep’s win. But in the end, it’s a game and things change within fraction of seconds. We came with a target of 5-2 win but we are surely not disappointed with a 4-3 victory on the first day of PWL.”

    Haryana Hammers player Abdusalam Gadisov said: “I believe our team is a great mix of some great Indian and international wrestlers and the performance on the first day has been great so far. Look forward to some more exciting matches in the coming days.

  • ISL 2016 shows growth; final gets 41 million TV views

    ISL 2016 shows growth; final gets 41 million TV views

    MUMBAI: The third season of the Hero Indian Super League was one of the most watched and followed footballing properties in India in 2016. With eight teams vying hard and looking equal on the paper, it was set to be a thrilling contest on cards. Atletico de Kolkata won the equally fought final in a penalty shootout, defeating fellow finalists of 2014, Kerala Blasters at a packed Kochi Stadium.

    The final was seen by 54,000 fans in the stadium, while 41 million fans tuned in on television to follow the nail biting drama (BARC, CS4+, U+R, all Channels). The total viewership was a rise of 41 per cent as compared to the final of 2015, shattering all records on the TV viewership of the league in history.

    Numbers suggest that finalists’ were being ably supported by their respective states. In Kerala, the ISL final became the most viewed sporting event in 2016, eclipsing the 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final (India vs West Indies) and the Euro 2016 final. In West Bengal, the ISL final had a higher viewership that that of IPL 9 finals (BARC, CS 4+, U+R Average Impressions).

    With a total viewership of 216 million as compared to 207 million last year, it is easy to understand that the football league is growing steadily (BARC, CS4+, U+R). One of the One of the highlights of the season was the sharp increase in rural India viewership registering a cumulative figure of 101 million, indicating the widespread appeal of the sport. Furthermore, key metro markets like Mumbai and Chennai emerged as one of the top performers this season recording a surge of more than 50% over last year along with a cumulative 20 per cent spike in viewership in Tamil Nadu.

    Football Sports Development Ltd founder & chairperson Nita Ambani, optimistic about the rising popularity of the game in India, said, “The overwhelming response from fans is testament to the vision we have for the league, and it reaffirms our faith that the ‘Indian football is moving in right direction. The response from newer markets like Tamil Nadu and Mumbai, and further growth in established markets like West Bengal, Kerala etc shows the appetite for the sport. Stadium attendance, viewership numbers and growth on digital platform this season further encourages us to reset our benchmark for the season ahead.”

    The third season of ISL has recorded a surge of over 25 per cent in overall viewer engagement vis-à-vis ISL 2015. This showcases the enhanced quality of play complemented by new look graphics and the best of experts on the commentary panel, cutting across demographic boundaries and capturing the imagination of a diverse fan base.

    2016 edition also took the digital medium by storm, registering double view-time, which was 2.3 times over last year on both Hotstar and Jio platform combined. The phenomenon of the Hero ISLwas also visible at the stadiums throughout the season in all ISL club cities, with fan armies and football enthusiasts filling up an average of over 84 per cent seating capacity, the highest across all three seasons.

    Star India managing director Sanjay Gupta said, “The kick-off to the Hero ISL in 2014 signified the birth of a footballing nation. This is a long term journey however we are very encouraged by the incredible fan affinity and increase in following of the league and the sport in a short span of three years. We had dreamt of the day when Indian footballers would emerge as sporting heroes and this season of the Hero ISL has seen many new stars emerge. Further the quality of play and multi-lingual, high quality broadcast content has delivered record engagement levels amongst fans. The deeper penetration of the league into Urban and Rural India and the explosive growth of digital consumption augurs well for the future of football in India.”

  • ISL 2016 shows growth; final gets 41 million TV views

    ISL 2016 shows growth; final gets 41 million TV views

    MUMBAI: The third season of the Hero Indian Super League was one of the most watched and followed footballing properties in India in 2016. With eight teams vying hard and looking equal on the paper, it was set to be a thrilling contest on cards. Atletico de Kolkata won the equally fought final in a penalty shootout, defeating fellow finalists of 2014, Kerala Blasters at a packed Kochi Stadium.

    The final was seen by 54,000 fans in the stadium, while 41 million fans tuned in on television to follow the nail biting drama (BARC, CS4+, U+R, all Channels). The total viewership was a rise of 41 per cent as compared to the final of 2015, shattering all records on the TV viewership of the league in history.

    Numbers suggest that finalists’ were being ably supported by their respective states. In Kerala, the ISL final became the most viewed sporting event in 2016, eclipsing the 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final (India vs West Indies) and the Euro 2016 final. In West Bengal, the ISL final had a higher viewership that that of IPL 9 finals (BARC, CS 4+, U+R Average Impressions).

    With a total viewership of 216 million as compared to 207 million last year, it is easy to understand that the football league is growing steadily (BARC, CS4+, U+R). One of the One of the highlights of the season was the sharp increase in rural India viewership registering a cumulative figure of 101 million, indicating the widespread appeal of the sport. Furthermore, key metro markets like Mumbai and Chennai emerged as one of the top performers this season recording a surge of more than 50% over last year along with a cumulative 20 per cent spike in viewership in Tamil Nadu.

    Football Sports Development Ltd founder & chairperson Nita Ambani, optimistic about the rising popularity of the game in India, said, “The overwhelming response from fans is testament to the vision we have for the league, and it reaffirms our faith that the ‘Indian football is moving in right direction. The response from newer markets like Tamil Nadu and Mumbai, and further growth in established markets like West Bengal, Kerala etc shows the appetite for the sport. Stadium attendance, viewership numbers and growth on digital platform this season further encourages us to reset our benchmark for the season ahead.”

    The third season of ISL has recorded a surge of over 25 per cent in overall viewer engagement vis-à-vis ISL 2015. This showcases the enhanced quality of play complemented by new look graphics and the best of experts on the commentary panel, cutting across demographic boundaries and capturing the imagination of a diverse fan base.

    2016 edition also took the digital medium by storm, registering double view-time, which was 2.3 times over last year on both Hotstar and Jio platform combined. The phenomenon of the Hero ISLwas also visible at the stadiums throughout the season in all ISL club cities, with fan armies and football enthusiasts filling up an average of over 84 per cent seating capacity, the highest across all three seasons.

    Star India managing director Sanjay Gupta said, “The kick-off to the Hero ISL in 2014 signified the birth of a footballing nation. This is a long term journey however we are very encouraged by the incredible fan affinity and increase in following of the league and the sport in a short span of three years. We had dreamt of the day when Indian footballers would emerge as sporting heroes and this season of the Hero ISL has seen many new stars emerge. Further the quality of play and multi-lingual, high quality broadcast content has delivered record engagement levels amongst fans. The deeper penetration of the league into Urban and Rural India and the explosive growth of digital consumption augurs well for the future of football in India.”