ITV

Category: Sports

  • Team Pune to kick start Hero ISL domestic player draft

    Team Pune to kick start Hero ISL domestic player draft

    MUMBAI: The Hero Indian Super League (ISL), on 21 July, conducted its ‘Clubs Sequence Selection’, based on which the central domestic player draft will be organised on 22 July and 23 July.

     

    IMG football vice president global business development Jefferson Slack was entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the selection through a lot pick in presence of all the Hero ISL club representatives.

     

    Among the six participating teams, Team Pune will be the first club to make its best player selection from the list of 84 Indian talents.

     

    Pune will be followed by Mumbai City FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Team Bengaluru, Atletico de Kolkata and Delhi Dynamos FC, in order. The seventh and eighth teams participating in the draft will be team Goa and NorthEast United FC. These two teams have retained their set of 14 domestic players from their respective I-League tie-ups Dempo sports club with Goa and Shillong Lajong football club with NorthEast United FC. Pre selected players will be announced as the draft progresses.

     

    The central player pool (CPL) proceedings will commence at 10 am on both the days, with each day featuring seven rounds of the draft.

     

    The league, co-promoted by IMG-Reliance and Star India and supported by All India Football Federation (AIFF), will have 84 Indian footballers in the central domestic player pool. The league has made provision of additional seven players in the central reserve pool to serve as replacement in case of injuries or other emergencies. 

     

    The CPL features a mix of seasoned, experienced senior national players and promising young talents from across the country. A total of 39 players have represented India at senior level and 22 of them are or have been a part of the national team set-up in the past two years.

     

    ISL through a statement said, “The central player pool boasts of a combined 750 plus national team caps, proving the imperative experience at international level. In addition, 75 players have played a major role in their respective I-League teams in the past three years, with 29 of them leading their clubs to top three finishes. Emphasis has also been given to promote young players and to provide them with required experience through Hero ISL with 17 signed players in the under-23 year age category. Two players also vaunt of playing on international soil for various clubs.”

     

    In terms of playing positions, the Hero Indian Super League has 27 attackers (forwards and wingers), 21 midfielders, 26 defenders and 10 goalkeepers. The pool includes 30 players on loan from four I -League clubs, as well as Free Agents who have been centrally contracted.

  • WKL announces Li Ning as apparel partner

    WKL announces Li Ning as apparel partner

    MUMBAI: World Kabaddi League has found its apparel partner with Li Ning Company which will now be the official apparel partner for its opening edition. The company will provide a wide range of clothing for the games related personnel, including the team kits.

     

    World Kabaddi League CEO Raman Raheja said, “It’s a matter of pride for World Kabaddi League to announce Li Ning Company as the official Apparel Partner for league. They are known for their professional approach & expertise in making apparel and sports equipment as per international standards. We believe Li Ning will join our efforts and share the vision of delivering best game in World Kabaddi League.  We hope this will be long and fruitful partnership.”

     

    Li-Ning India business head Ram Malhotra commented “World Kabaddi League provides athletes, from across the globe, with a unique and professional platform to showcase their talent and sportsmanship and to promote Kabaddi on an international scale. This is something that resonates with Li Ning because as a brand, we are continuously seeking to establish strong relationships with world – class athletes across all sports and to support initiatives aimed at popularizing various sports. We are excited to be a part of an initiative that brings together Kabaddi champions and enthusiasts alike, on a global scale, to share and revel in their passion for Kabaddi.”

     

    In the international arena, Li Ning Company has been a strategic partner of NBA, ATP and other top international event organizers and institutions offering its equipment and services to several eminent athletes like Shaquille O’Neal, Ivan Ljubicic, Jose Calderon, Asafa Powell, Yelena Isinbayeva, Andreas Thorkildsen, Marin Cilic, Ivo Karlovic to name a few.

     

    World Kabaddi League is slated to kick start on August 9. With 94 matches and matches scheduled across 3 continents in UK, US, Canada, Dubai and India; the WKL will follow F1 format. WKL will present the sport to its fans in a completely new avatar by adding more action-oriented elements. The maiden Indian contact sport which has committed fan following across the globe will soon be pegged amongst the most followed game amongst enthusiasts. WKL will be played in Circle style which is the most popular kabaddi format followed across 26 countries globally.

     

    WKL aims to become the go-to brand when it comes to sports entertainment or delivering value to its partners and sponsors. WKL as a brand embodies strength, power, agility, tactic, entertainment, masculinity and aggression. It promises to take the indigenous Indian sport to the world and redefining it for the Indian audience.

  • Hero MotoCorp ISL player draft on 21 July

    Hero MotoCorp ISL player draft on 21 July

     

    MUMBAI: Monday 21 July is a big day for Indian soccer. The excitement associated with the Indian Premier League player selection process by the various team owners annually is all set to hit Indian football, as the first player draft for the Star India and IMG-Reliance promoted Hero MotoCorp Indian Super League (ISL) gets underway. Up for grabs will be domestic footballers and the various teams will be putting up their bids to acquire them until Wednesday.

     

    While the draft will be done along the lines of Major League Soccer of US, two franchises – Videocon Group owned Goa team and Bollywood actor John Abraham’s Guwahati team  – will not be participating in it. Reason: the two have already selected their players from their respective I-League teams namely Dempo, Salgoancars and Shillong Lajong.  

     

    According to a PTI report, a total of 92 players will be available to the franchises at the draft.  The list includes 32 players from the I-League clubs (on loan) and the rest are players who have been directly signed for the central pool by IMG-Reliance. Among those are players like internationals Gourmangi Singh and Nirmal Chetri.

     

    Sources expect close Rs 25 crore to be spent during the three day player draft.  The I-League clubs which have released their players to take part in the first edition of the tournament are Kolkata’s glamour outfits East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, Mumbai FC, United SC and Rangdajied United FC.

     

    Each team will have a minimum squad strength of 22 footballers, including one marquee player, seven internationals and 14 Indian ones. The players can be selected at a fixed price only.

     

    The eight participating franchises in the inaugural edition of Hero MotoCorp ISL are Atletico de Kolkata, Delhi Dynamos FC, NorthEast United FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Team Goa, Team Pune, Team Mumbai and Team Bangalore.

     

    The tournament is being backed by the All India Football Federation, which has created a window – between 18 September and 7 December – for the event. 

  • Sunil Gavaskar relieved as BCCI interim president

    Sunil Gavaskar relieved as BCCI interim president

    MUMBAI: India’s cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar has been relieved of his duties as the interim BCCI president by the Supreme Court. He was appointed to manage the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014.

     

    The bench headed by Justice T.S Thakur relieved Gavaskar but appreciated the work he had done of conducting the affairs of both the board and the IPL.

     

    The court also allowed him to seek compensation from the BCCI for the work he had done so far. The move comes after Gavaskar had written to the apex court seeking clarity on his role since the IPL had concluded.

     

    Senior BCCI Vice President Shivlal Yadav will meanwhile continue to function till further orders of the apex court.

     

    The Supreme Court had appointed Gavaskar after taking control of the board on 28 March from current ICC chairman N. Srinivasan who was asked to move aside in the wake of the alleged betting charges against his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan during the previous season of IPL.

  • Star Network wants ISL to be postponed

    Star Network wants ISL to be postponed

    MUMBAI: Post 2014 FIFA World Cup, football fans in India were eagerly waiting for Indian Super League (ISL) to begin. While it is slated for September, its official broadcast partner Star Network has asked IMG-Reliance to postpone the inaugural season.

     

    The Champions League T20 cricket tournament is likely to start from 7 September. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has given IMG-Reliance a window of 18 September to 7 December for the eight-team league.

     

    The network which is also the promoter of the football league, does not want the league to clash with the cricket tournament.

     

    IMG-Reliance senior official Priti Srivastava told IANS, “Star has requested us to change the dates of the league. But it will be extremely difficult for us. We are still in talks with Star to find a viable solution.”

     

    AIFF secretary general Kushal Das also said that the national calendar could not be compromised for ISL.

     

    He added, “We have given them the window and they have to host the ISL during that period.”

     

    However, there is some good news as Hero MotoCorp has come on board as as the title sponsor of the league which will now be called ‘Hero Indian Super League’.

    Hero has signed a three-year deal with ISL.

     

     

     

  • Ten Sports gets patriotic before CWG 2014

    Ten Sports gets patriotic before CWG 2014

    MUMBAI:  T20 World Cup, IPL, FIFA and now the Commonwealth Games. It has been a remarkable calendar, so far, for major sporting events both at the domestic and the international level.

     

    With broadcasters acquiring broadcast rights of various sporting events, Ten Sports, one of the few players in the sports broadcast industry, has seen one such major acquisition – Commonwealth Games (CWG).

     

    The CWG, which begins from 23 July and go on till 3 August, will be telecast live on Ten Sports, Ten action and Ten HD live. The Games, which takes place once in four years, will be held in Glasgow, this time.  The sports broadcaster has launched an aggressive marketing campaign and pre build-up shows to educate audiences about sporting disciplines and medal prospects.

     

    According to media planners Rs 4.5 crore to Rs 5 crore has been spent on the entire marketing and promotional activities for these Games.

     

    The objective of the campaign was to create a larger than life stature of CWG in India and to engage fans to boost viewership. Once the Games begin, the channel will focus on throughout the day studio coverage and downlinking the match from Glasgow.  

     

    Fogg deodorants is the broadcast partner for the channel.

     

    Ten Sports global head Rajesh Sethi says, “Major sporting events like CWG and Asian Games gain a lot of fan interest in participating nations. I am confident that our comprehensive coverage will interest and engage every sports lover.”

     

    The channel’s special programming lineup includes Medal Hunt which will give an in-depth analysis of India’s medal prospects with current stars and past legends. Sporting Heroes profiles Indian sports stars. The profiling includes expectations from the Games, the journey to stardom, training regimen and life outside the sporting arena. The Commonwealth Show puts the spotlight on top athletes, showcases the venues, behind the scenes and insights about the events.

     

    The channel has come up with a total of seven TVCs. The videos have sportsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Heena Sidhu, Sushil kumar, Rupinder Pal Singh PV Sidhu and Siva Thapa asking viewers ‘Kya Aapka Bhi Dil Dhadakta Hai Hindustan Ke Liye/ Does Your Heart Beat for India?’ The promos are running on both Ten Sports network and Zee Network.

     

    Vignettes too have been created. Blast From The Past is where stars relive the most famous victories in the sporting arena sharing anecdotes from the memorable victories. Know Your Sports explains the fundamentals of the sport and the various equipment used in a sport.  For What’s in my Bag athletes  talk about their kit, facts about the maintenance of the gear and any lucky charms they carry in the bag. It’s my Life is where stars talk about how they unwind-their passions other than sports and their favourite cuisine. Golden Moments is rare archival footage highlighting the achievements of some of the greatest athletes of all times. Quick Takes is interesting facts of Commonwealth Games including trivia about Indian performance.

     

    As part of the outdoor campaign, bus wraps have been used in Mumbai and Delhi on BEST, NMMT and HOHO buses. It also has a special tie up with Red FM for its radio campaigns in major metros.  Recently to promote the campaign an event was held in Delhi with a captive audience of 15,000, wherein well known comedian Kapil Sharma enthralled audiences.  

     

    On the digital front there will be live streaming on live.tensports.com. Tens Sports has a dedicated page on its website as well. There is also a section where fans can post messages to cheer team India. On Twitter, Facebook and Google +, trivia around CWG, player profiles, medal tally’s and contests are being held.

     

    According to Group M ESP national director- entertainment sports and live events Vinit Karnik “Since the last games were held in India definitely there will be some rub off on the current game. The audiences have warmed up since the last time, as they are more aware of the games which carry a sense of national pride.”

     

    The Games will see 17 sports and participation from 70 countries and a total of over 6,500 athletes. CWG will involve athletes from the Commonwealth nations including England, Australia, Canada, India and Jamaica. India ranked second at the last Commonwealth Games held in 2010 with 101 medals. The Indian government has already set a target of 125 medals for this season.

     

     

    Ten Sports also acquired the rights for UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League for a further period of three years till the 2017-18 season. The network has also acquired properties like German Football and the German Cup for four seasons. This promises to give audiences the opportunity to the see the world cup winners play for their clubs.

     

    US Open Tennis, I-League and The Ryder Cup in September and Hockey Champions Trophy in India in December are the other marquee properties that the Ten Sports Network has to offer in the coming months.

  • DEN’s Delhi team of ISL named Delhi Dynamos FC

    DEN’s Delhi team of ISL named Delhi Dynamos FC

    MUMBAI: In this season of football frenzy, the national capital is seeing the birth of its very own football movement. DEN Soccer a wholly owned subsidiary of DEN Networks announced the launch of the Delhi Dynamos FC, the Delhi franchise of the Indian Super League (ISL).

     

    DEN also announced its alliance with Feyenoord Rotterdam -a leading football club and academy from the Netherlands. Feyenoord’s football academy has been voted as the best academy in the Netherlands for five successive years. According to the CIES Football Observatory, Feyenoord is the world number one in player development for this year’s FIFA World Cup. As part of the alliance with DEN, Feyenoord will share its immense knowledge of the sport and assist the Delhi Dynamos in overall development of its team in addition to providing world class players and technical staff.

     

    The name Delhi Dynamos represents the very essence of what is intrinsic to all Dilliwallahs and the beautiful game of football. The anthem of the team captures the diversity and the raw energy of Delhi.

     

    DEN aims to create a robust football ecosystem in Delhi and north India along with giving them a team they can support with pride.  The team name, the team philosophy, anthem and the Delhi Dynamos’ alliance with Feyenoord Rotterdam were unveiled at an event held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the home stadium of the Dynamos. The stadium is getting a brand new world-class football pitch in preparation for hosting the Delhi home matches of the ISL.

  • Sonakshi Sinha now co owns WKL team

    Sonakshi Sinha now co owns WKL team

    MUMBAI: Bollywood cinestar Sonakshi Sinha has announced her association with World Kabaddi League which is slated to kickstart from 9 August in London. Sonakshi has bought the United Singhs team along with the Hayre Group of UK. She becomes the third celebrity to associate with the League after Akshay Kumar and Honey Singh.

     

    Speaking to media and her fans at a meet in Mumbai, Sinha said, “I am really excited to be part of World Kabaddi League. This is my first such endeavor. Kabaddi is a fast paced sport and I am looking forward to some adrenalin rush moments during the League.” Sinha is likely to travel along with her team as much as possible.

     

    Sinha is already making amends in her shooting dates so that her commitment to World Kabaddi League is intact. “Please, please, please support World Kabaddi League as this is surely taking Kabaddi places,” she said.

     

    World Kabaddi League Commissioner Pargat Singh said, “We are very excited with the support World Kabaddi League is getting from various celebrated personalities. Sonakshi is truly a gem in the crown. We are confident that her association will add to the growing fan following of the League.” 

     

    World Kabaddi League promises to present the sport to its fans in a completely new avatar by adding more action-oriented elements. WKL will be played in Circle style which is the most popular kabaddi format followed across 26 countries globally.

     

    Earlier this month, bollywood actor Akshay Kumar had endorsed the league by buying a team. The actor has always been enthusiastic in promoting fitness and sports which encouraged him to take this decision. He believes that Kabaddi is an authentic sport that puts up raw power for display and keeps the adrenalin rushing at all times.

     

    Talwinder Singh of Hayre Group said, “It gives me immense pleasure to have an A-list actor like Sonakshi to be a co-team owner. Her movies are eagerly watched internationally and am sure she can make Kabaddi look cool as a sport to play and follow. She has some very innovative winning strategies up her sleeve that she continues to share with me and my players. We will play to win and I am sure the fans will enjoy it thoroughly.”

     

    “It gives Kabaddi a ‘gladiatorial’ persona and adds loads of spunk and aura. We need to vie for a niche currently occupied by well-established sports like soccer and cricket. Our visual identity, tone and texture is global and aspirational,” added Singh.

  • Sports Technology set to score at new sports tech marketplace at the 2015 International CES

    Sports Technology set to score at new sports tech marketplace at the 2015 International CES

    MUMBAI: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has announced the launch of the Sports Tech Marketplace, a showcase of the latest in sports technology set to debut at the 2015 International CES. Owned and produced by CEA, the International CES is the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. The 2015 CES is scheduled to run 6-9 January 2015, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

     

    Presented by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the Sports Tech Marketplace will highlight how technology is being incorporated into sports and how it is affecting the participant experience. The marketplace will feature the most recent products, services and trends in sports technology, placing a global spotlight on this fast-growing category. The Sports Tech Marketplace will be located within the Sands Expo at CES Tech West.

     

    “Technology is being used more and more in sports, and the 2015 CES will be the ‘can’t miss’, best place to experience the wide range of these products and solutions,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, International CES and corporate business strategy, CEA. “Sensors, wearables and mobile technologies are revolutionizing sports by providing real-time information that enables us to better achieve our athletic goals. CES is at the forefront of this emerging category and we’re pleased to partner with SFIA to bring it to life.”

     

    “Technology has driven some of the greatest innovations in our industry,” said Tom Cove, president and CEO, SFIA. “We’re proud to partner with an organization like CEA to launch the Sports Tech Conference and Marketplace. We see technology revolutionizing the current sports landscape and we’re only at the tip of the iceberg. The combining of these two storied associations to produce the conference and marketplace ensures that it will be of the highest quality. We hope Vegas and the tech industry is ready for the sports industry, because we’re ready for them.”

     

    The Sports Tech Marketplace will be part of CES Tech West which includes the Sands Expo (Sands), The Venetian and Wynn/Encore exhibits. Tech West will also feature leading companies and the newest innovations in lifestyle technologies, including fitness and health tech, smart home, the Internet of Things, sensors, startups and other high-growth technologies changing the way we work, live and play.

     

    The 2015 CES will feature more than 3,500 exhibitors unveiling the latest consumer technology products and services across the entire ecosystem of consumer technologies. Companies interested in exhibiting in the new Sports Tech Marketplace should contact Kristen Nafziger at knafziger@CE.org.

     

    Registration for the 2015 CES is now open.

     

  • Pune franchisee all set to battle it out in Pro Kabaddi League2014

    Pune franchisee all set to battle it out in Pro Kabaddi League2014

    MUMBAI: Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd., a Mumbai-based firm, today announced the launch of ‘Puneri Paltan’, the franchise that will represent Pune in Pro Kabaddi League 2014. Pro Kabaddi League is slated to kick-off later this month. On the occasion, the Puneri Paltan team logo, anthem and jersey were also unveiled.

     

    Puneri Paltan will be captained by Wazir Singh, who has a long and distinguished record in the sport of Kabaddi. Wazir Singh has represented India, the State of Rajasthan and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). He was part of the team that won the Silver medal for India at the 2011 South Asian Beach Games. Ramphal Kaushik, winner of the Best Coach Award 2011 of CISF, is the official coach of Puneri Paltan.

     

    Sumanlal Shah, Director, Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd., said, “Kabaddi is an ancient Indian sport that has lost out to other sports in terms of popularity and investments over the years. The sport is an integral part of India’s rich cultural heritage. It is also a hugely competitive and dynamic sport that makes for compelling viewing. Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd. is extremely proud to promote Kabaddi and be associated with Pro Kabaddi League. We are geared up with our team, Puneri Paltan, for an exciting season ahead.”

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Karthi Marshan, Director Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd., said, “A truly Indian sport, Kabaddi represents both ‘attack’ and ‘defense’. We have captured this essence in the Puneri Paltan logo, aptly represented by the ‘sword’ and ‘shield’ as well as in the lyrics of the team’s anthem. More importantly, we have used this theme as a guiding principle in putting together a fabulous team.”

     

    The Puneri Paltan team includes Wazir Singh (Captain), Arabinda Khuntia, Jitesh Joshi, K Balamahendran, Mahipal Narwal, Manoj Kumar, Mostafa Noudehi (Iran national), Nitin More, Pravin Niwale, Simon Kubura (Kenya national), Sunil Lande and Waleed Hasani (Oman national).

     

    Wazir Singh, Captain of Puneri Paltan, said, “It is my privilege and honour to lead this team. I would like to express my gratitude to Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd. for reposing faith in the team and in the sport, which is by and large recognised as a rural and semi-urban sport in India. I am sure this professional format of Kabaddi will make it popular. I urge every individual from the city of Pune and across the country to extend their support to Puneri Paltan and the League. I am confident that our team will pose a strong challenge and we look forward to a hard-fought and successful tournament.”

     

    The Pune franchise has also launched the team anthem sung by well-known music director, Ajay Gogavale (of Ajay-Atul fame). The anthem captures elements of power, tactics and strategy involved in this heritage sport, and is all set to rekindle the passion and spirit of fans and supporters across India.

     

    Puneri Paltan is currently undergoing training sessions at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex located at Balewadi in Pune, and will be playing its first match in Mumbai on July 27, 2014. The inaugural edition of Pro Kabaddi League starts on July 26, 2014.