Category: Sports

Mumbai: WWE (NYSE: WWE) today announced its long-awaited return to India with WWE Superstar Spectacle at the GMC Balayogi Indoor Stadium (Gachibowli Indoor Stadium), Hyderabad, India, on Friday, September 8, 2023. This will mark the first live event to take place in India since 2017 and the first-ever WWE live event to be held in Hyderabad.  

Tickets for WWE Superstar Spectacle at the GMC Balayogi Indoor Stadium (Gachibowli Indoor Stadium) will be available from 12:00pm IST this Friday, 4 August 2023 at www.bookmyshow.com. Fans interested in joining an early presale from 12:00pm IST this Thursday, 3 August, can register now via the BookMyShow app and website.  

WWE fans in attendance can look forward to seeing their favorite WWE Superstars in action including World heavyweight champion Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens, Intercontinental Champion “The Ring General” GUNTHER, Jinder Mahal, Veer, Sanga, Drew McIntyre, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Matt Riddle, Ludwig Kaiser, and many more*. 

Sony Sports Network is the home of WWE in India including WWE’s flagship programming Raw, SmackDown, NXT and WWE’s Premium Live Events including WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and more – showcased on Sony Sports Ten 1 (English), Sony Sports Ten 3 (Hindi) and Sony Sports Ten 4 (Tamil & Telugu). For more information visit www.sonysportsnetwork.com. 

WWE Superstar Spectacle in India is produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live, the live entertainment experiential division of BookMyShow, India’s leading entertainment destination. 

Mumbai: The first-ever S8UL Gaming Fest, presented by Lenovo and Intel, was a two-day gaming spectacle bringing together more than 13,000 attendees from the Indian Gaming community to celebrate the journey of Indian gaming & Esports as a tribute to S8UL fans, at the Manpho Convention Centre in Bangalore. Around 30 S8UL gamers were present at the event, and the attendees rejoiced as they connected with their favorite gamers, competed in fun tournaments, participated in cosplay, and experienced some revolutionary gaming tech. The event was co-hosted by The Esports Club (TEC). Sponsors & event partners Youtube India, Mogo Esports, and Act Fibernet helped make the event a resounding success.

The gaming carnival, which was organised by S8UL Esports, India’s foremost Esports organisation in partnership with the Esports Club, witnessed an unprecedented response from the gaming community as it also garnered over 50 million views on Instagram stories, 200 million overall impressions across all social media channels, and was trending at #2 and #4 on YouTube.

With this event, S8UL Esports which is the brainchild of Indian Esports industry veterans and distinguished gamers Naman Mathur (Mortal), Animesh Agarwal (8Bit Thug), and Lokesh Jain (Goldy) became the first Indian Esports organization to successfully host a gaming fest in the country. Following its ground-breaking success, the organization also officially announced that the gaming fest will be back next year on an even bigger scale and will be hosted in Mumbai.

S8UL co-founder and CEO Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug said, “The S8UL Gaming Fest was a unique celebration dedicated to our fans, providing them with a platform to connect with their beloved creators. The response we received in terms of interactions on social media as well as the turnout at the event was truly overwhelming. Engaging in exciting activities with the community that has been such a big part of our journey was heartwarming for each one of us. We extend our gratitude to all the attendees, especially to our partners and sponsors whose stellar support enabled our initiative to turn into a grand success. Looking ahead, we cannot wait to bring the second edition of this unforgettable experience for our fans on an even larger scale and are confident that it will exceed everyone’s expectations”.

The gaming fest enabled fans to immerse in the world of premium gaming experiences with VR and Racing Simulators and the opportunity to try their hands on the latest high-end gaming devices from Lenovo and Intel that were on display at the fest. Adding to the excitement, Mortal and 8Bit Sid unveiled the latest Lenovo LOQ product too, at the event.

Lenovo India director of marketing Chandrika Jain stated, “The S8UL Gaming Festival gave us an opportunity to engage with hundreds of casual and serious gamers. With over 10k attendees experiencing gaming on our Legion devices at the event, this weekend’s crowd-puller really solidified our leadership and popularity amongst the gaming community. It was great to partner with S8UL Gaming Festival and The Esports Club to bring forth this impactful, ultimate gaming experience on-ground.”

By bringing together the country’s leading gaming talent, creators, and their passionate fan base all under one roof, the S8UL Gaming Fest provided gaming enthusiasts with a one-of-a-kind experience. The event showcased a diverse range of activities that kept the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the two days.

The Esports Club co-founder & COO Mansoor “Nabu” Ahmed said, “ The two-day extravaganza has brought sheer delight to the gaming community, and we’re even more excited to continue making it even better alongside S8UL. Stay tuned for more epic gaming experiences!”

The gaming fest’s main attractions included the S8UL creator Valorant Tournament, which witnessed intense battles between the organization’s popular creators such as ScoutOP, SnaxGaming, PayalGaming, Regaltos, 8Bit Mamba, and KrutikaPlays and among others. At the event, fans were also finally able to get their hands on the highly anticipated S8UL Esports merchandise that had been eagerly awaited.

Going beyond the tournaments and merch, gaming aficionados had the opportunity to gain insights and tips from the distinguished creators of the industry who were part of the YouTube panel discussion. Fans gained valuable knowledge directly from their favorite content creators, about their journey in the digital space.

Additionally, the fest also hosted a captivating Gaming Cosplay Competition on both days. Attendees showcased their remarkable costumes and accessories with the winner being rewarded with a stunning Lenovo gaming laptop.

The S8UL Gaming Fest with the support of Youtube India, MOGO, ACT Fibernet, Lenovo, Intel, and the Esports Club has set a new benchmark for gaming events in India, and the gaming community will eagerly be anticipating the upcoming edition to engage in more exciting activities.

Mumbai: Four players of the Indian women’s team, including captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, will be part of The Hundred 2023. The latest edition of The Hundred will start on 1 August and run till 27 August. FanCode will be live streaming all the matches from this year’s edition. Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues too will be playing in this year’s competition. 

Cricket fans can watch all the action on FanCode’s mobile app (Android, iOS), TV app available on Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Jio STB, Samsung TV, Airtel XStream, OTT Play and www.fancode.com. Games will start at 7:30 PM and 11:00 PM IST. 

The eight teams competing include Birmingham Phoenix, London Spirit, Manchester Originals, Northern Superchargers, Oval Invincibles, Southern Brave, Trent Rockets, and the Welsh Fire. 

While Harmanpreet Kaur will represent Trent Rockets, Smriti Mandhana will be turning up for Southern Brave. Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh will play for Northern Superchargers and London Spirit respectively. 

Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf are amongst some other marquee players expected to feature in the tournament. 

The Hundred is England Cricket Board’s latest innovation and sees eight men’s and women’s teams competing in an exciting new 100-ball format. Bowlers are allowed to bowl either five or ten consecutive deliveries, with each bowler delivering a maximum of 20 deliveries. Both men’s and women’s matches are held back-to-back in the same venue, with equal prize money for the winners. 

Trent Rockets and Oval Invincibles are the defending men’s and women’s champions respectively.

Mumbai: The much-awaited skyfair.news 2023 Lanka Premier League (LPL) took off on Sunday evening amidst a glamorous opening ceremony at the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium. The ceremony witnessed a mix of high-octane music, Srilankan culture, dance, firework and fanfare ahead of the faceoff between Colombo Strikers and Jaffna Kingsheld to mark the beginning of the 22 days long league.

The stadium came alive with the breathtaking display of dancing stunts, 25 drummers energetically welcoming everyone in traditional Srilankan outfit, followed by the enchanting voice of Yohani Diloka de Silva, who also happens to be the brand ambassador for the league. The global YouTube sensation mesmerised the eagerly awaiting audience with her songs. As the evening progressed, the opening ceremony unfolded to present a cocktail of light, action, music and beyond.

Expressing enthusiasm for the tournament and the sport’s growth in Sri Lanka, chief guest, Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) president Shammi Silva, graced the occasion, along with Miss World Tourism, Nguyen Giang Tien of Vietnam as well as other local celebrities who ensured the evening was nothing short of electric. 

“The Lanka Premier League not only celebrates the remarkable talent of our nation but also showcases the unifying power cricket has. As we embark on this journey for the fourth time, we look forward to a gripping display of skill, passion, and camaraderie off the field as well as a competitive brand of cricket on the field. I extend my best wishes to all the participating teams, coaches, and supporters as well as the fans,” commented Sri Lankan Cricket president Shammi Silva.

“It is heartening to see how the Lanka Premier League has once again brought together the best cricketers in the World to enthrall the cricket fans all over the World. LPL has provided a great platform to a lot of youngsters over the last few years and I am sure that we will see a lot of budding talent coming through in the next three weeks,” said IPG Group (the official rights holder of LPL) founder and CEO Anil Mohan Sankhdhar.

The participating teams, includes Colombo Strikers led by Niroshan Dickwella, Dambulla Aura captained by Kusal Mendis, Galle Titans led by Dasun Shanaka, B-Love Kandy captained by Wanindu Hasaranga, and defending champions Jaffna Kings led by veteran Sri Lankan allrounder Thisara Perera, also took part in the ceremony.

The other highlight of the ceremony was the grand unveiling of the prestigious LPL trophy. Amidst much anticipation and excitement, the chief guest and distinguished delegates proudly inaugurated the gleaming trophy for the fourth edition of LPL.

Famous Sri Lankan singers Chithral Sompala and Umara Sinhawansa combined beautifully to deliver a soulful rendition of the National anthem followed by an energetic dance performance to the official theme song as the opening ceremony drew curtains and the fourth edition kicked off.

Mumbai: The vibrant city of Ahmedabad witnessed high octane biking spectacle as the Moto GP Bharat’s multi “City Tour” made its way to the iconic Indian Institute of Management (IIM) campus on Sunday, where, close to 500 riders congregated to celebrate their biking passion as well as welcome the City Tour of MotoGP, which will take place in India for the first time from 22-24 September 2023.

While the bikers rode through various points in the city to celebrate the momentous bike ride; thrilling motorbike action and music performance by the popular IIM band inside the campus added extra entertainment to the event. The packed campus crowd was enthralled by the freewheeling stunts of the expert bikers as they showcased gravity-defying manoeuvres.

“We are thrilled to bring MotoGP Bharat’s multi-city tour to Ahmedabad. This city has witnessed several iconic sports events in the past and we are really excited to be at the IIM Campus- always a hub for a passionate and thriving sporting community. While the ride witnessed the excitement  and remarkable energy of the biking community gathered here; Fresh Face and Motofluencer contest was undertaken as part of the City Tour to choose lucky contest winners who will watch the Indian edition of the race Live at Buddh International Circuit and the host state of Uttar Pradesh,” said FairStreet Sport managing director and head of city tours Sushant Srivastava, the Indian promoters of MotoGP

While the event propagated the MotoGP Bharat’s race philosophy of “Roads are for riding” and “Tracks are for racing” and encouraged young and aspirational riders to become aware of this global IP. The objective of the city ride was also to forge a strong sense of camaraderie with the biking fraternity of Ahmedabad city and across the state.

MotoGP Bharat’s quest to celebrate and promote female riders, from across the country also resonated with the women during interactions at the event.                         

The spectators were fully engaged to become contest winners of the Fresh Face and Motofluencer contest organised at the event. Red Bull fuelled the excitement as the official energy drink partner for the event

Host state, Uttar Pradesh will welcome the bike enthusiasts from Ahmedabad and other cities as the caravan will proceed across the country before culminating in Delhi on the race weekend in September, from where participants will ride to the iconic Buddh International Circuit for the race that takes place from 22-24 September 2023.

Mumbai: Viral sensation and popular Sri Lankan singer star, Yohani Diloka de Silva will be the face of the skyfair.news Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 as its official brand ambassador for the highly-anticipated fourth edition which commences at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo on 30 July 2023.

Having made her breakthrough with the widely acclaimed hit ‘Manike Mage Hithe’, Yohani has since been one of the most followed and heard singing sensations both in India and Sri Lanka.

Yohani’s coming on board as a brand ambassador will not only engage cricket enthusiasts and music lovers alike but it will be an opportunity to create an exceptional blend of music and cricket to elevate the league’s reach across the sub-continent.

Speaking on her association with the league, Yohani expressed her enthusiasm, commented, “I am thrilled and honoured to be part of Lanka Premier League. Cricket has always been cherished in Sri Lanka, and music too has been an intrinsic part of its growth journey. While my songs have found a global fan base, this association will enhance the engagement and interaction of cricketing and music lovers in a more holistic manner and thereby create a strong brand identity for our very own Island Nation as well as Lanka Premier League. I wish the League, all the teams and players best of luck.”

Yohani has been a part of a number of popular Indian talent as well as pop culture shows, movies and has amassed a massive fan base in India and across the sub-continent region. She also has an Indian Music label major exclusive deal to her name.

Notably, the 29-year-old has previously lent her voice to the official theme song of the second edition of the Lanka Premier League in 2021.

“We are really excited to have Yohani as the Brand Ambassador for LPL Season 4. She is not only a youth icon for Sri Lanka but has also been globally followed and it augurs well with our brand vision of making the Lanka Premier League, one of the most followed and successful cricket leagues from the subcontinent. In an era, where millennials and Gen Z have a strong influence- whether it is for cricket or music, I am confident, this partnership between LPL and Yohani will help the league connect with newer and more diverse set of audiences from across the region and globally,” commented IPG Group (the official rights holder of LPL) founder and CEO Anil Mohan Sankhdhar.

The fourth edition of the skyfair.news LPL 2023 which is kickstarting from 30 July will feature top international stars like David Miller, Babar Azam, Chris Lynn, and Shakib Al Hasan who will be entertaining the fans in the league along with top-class Sri Lankan players like Mahesh Theekshana, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Angelo Mathews.

The tournament comprises six teams including Colombo Strikers, Dambulla Aura, Galle Titans, Jaffna Kings, and B-Love Kandy, each representing different regions from the Island. Each team will compete in a series of matches to be held in Kandy and Colombo.

The Lanka Premier League 2023 will be telecasted live on the Star Sports network and the Live stream will be available on the Fancode app.

Mumbai: The anticipation for the 2023 ODI World Cup has reached a fever pitch as cricket fans around the globe eagerly await the spectacle of talent, passion, and national pride. India, a nation with an insatiable appetite for cricket, is set to host the extravaganza, captivating billions of fans worldwide. In a special preview of the tournament, Eoin Morgan, the 2019 ODI World Cup-winning captain, shared his views and predictions in an exclusive interview with Sports Editor of WION sports editor Digvijay Singh Deo.

Speaking to Deo, Morgan identified India as the favourites to clinch victory in their home conditions. Morgan acknowledged the exceptional growth and popularity of the game, predicting that ODI Cricket might eventually be limited to World Cup events. Highlighting the pressure faced by the 50-over format, he said, “The cricketing landscape is gradually shifting towards more T20 cricket, with the Future Tours Programme (FTP) reflecting this trend.”

Morgan lauded the Indian cricket team and said, “The enthusiasm and passion displayed by Indian fans are unparalleled, which makes this special. The team has formidable skills, and can, indeed, be strong contenders in the upcoming World Cup. They also need to engage with and learn from the experiences of those who participated in the 2011 World Cup.”

Identifying the top contenders for the 2023 ODI World Cup, Morgan singled out England, India, Australia, and Pakistan as the four favourites. Expressing his views on the Olympics, Morgan further suggested, “The 2023 ODI World Cup presents a golden opportunity for players to leave an indelible mark on the cricketing world. In fact, the T10 format should also be considered, allowing cricket to expand its reach and inclusivity.”

Known for its fervent cricket fans, the World Cup is a momentous occasion for the country. The upcoming 2023 Cricket World Cup is poised to be a celebration of cricketing excellence, sportsmanship, and camaraderie.

“For some, the World Cup will be the stage to announce their arrival at the grandest level, while for others, it might mark the end of illustrious careers,” added Morgan.

Mumbai: The powerhouses of Indian gaming, S8UL Esports and its co-founder Naman Mathur aka Mortal, will once again be carrying India’s flag on the international stage after being nominated as the country’s sole representative for the Global Esports Awards 2023. S8UL Esports has received a nomination for the ‘Esports Content Creator of the Year category, while Mortal has been nominated for the ‘Esports Personality of the Year category.

The Esports Awards is dedicated to showcasing top-class performance and innovation from, amongst others, the players, teams, media, hardware providers, games, events, and personalities within the scene. The aim of the awards is to ensure that success and achievement in Esports are celebrated globally.

S8UL Esports which is the brainchild of the country’s Esports industry veterans, Naman Mathur aka Mortal, Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, and Lokesh Jain aka Goldy, had emerged victorious in the ‘Content Group of the Year category at the prestigious awards last year against global sensations from the industry including the likes of 100 Thieves, FaZe Clan, OTK, G4TV, Tribo Gaules among others. This time around they are in contention for the award alongside equally notable names such as Loud, The Score Esports, Last Free Nation, Judo Sloth, One True King, Tribo Gaules, and many more.

“All of us at S8UL are incredibly honoured to receive consecutive nominations in the prestigious ‘Esports Awards’. These nominations are a testament to the outstanding contributions of S8UL and Mortal toward the Indian gaming and Esports community. Being recognised on the global Esports stage alongside such distinguished organisations and personalities is a significant milestone for us as it showcases the strides we have made in elevating Indian Esports to new heights. We are excited to represent India on the global stage and together we will continue to push the boundaries of Esports to make our mark in the gaming world,” said S8UL Esports co-founder Lokesh Jain aka Goldy.

Since its inception, S8UL Esports has set a benchmark for not just dominating the competitive gaming landscape but also delivering exceptional gaming content in India. Being home to well-renowned gamers and creators including Mortal, Scout, Payal, Mamba, Regaltos, Krutika, Sidd, and Kaashvi, among others has seen the organisation emerge as the flagbearer of Indian Esports globally. The organization was recently honoured with the ‘Global Impact on Mobile Gaming’ award at the inaugural MOBIES Awards for their remarkable contribution to propelling the Indian mobile gaming sector to unprecedented heights.

“At S8UL, our vision has always been to be at the forefront of both, Esports and content creation across the globe. So, it gives us immense happiness to see that our work has not only inspired and entertained the gaming community in India but has also been recognized at what is the pinnacle of Esports excellence. Mortal’s nomination on the other hand stands as an example for his extraordinary journey that has inspired countless people in the Indian gaming circuit to pursue their dreams. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our fans for their dedicated support. Together, we will continue shaping the future of gaming and leave a lasting legacy in the ecosystem,” said S8UL Esports co-founder and founder & CEO of 8Bit Creatives Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug.

Known as the face of Indian gaming, Naman Mathur is the only Indian athlete to ever be nominated at the prestigious Esports awards four successive times. As an influential figure in the gaming industry known for his top-notch gaming skills as well as engaging content, he was previously nominated for the ‘Streamer of the Year’ in 2020 and 2021 followed by his nomination in the ‘Esports Personality of the Year’ in 2022 and this year as well.

S8UL Esports co-founder Naman Mathur stated, “Throughout my journey, I have always strived to follow my passion for gaming and represent my country with pride. My nomination is proof that we Indians, have the potential to not only compete but also excel at the highest level in Esports. It is the encouragement and love of my fans that motivates me every day and has helped me to achieve new heights. I am excited to represent India at the awards amongst such talented individuals and can hopefully make our nation proud by bringing the trophy home this time.”

Backed by recent accolades, the leading Esports organization S8UL, in collaboration with The Esports Club will also be inaugurating the first-ever gaming fest, a two-day extravaganza sponsored by Lenovo and Intel, dedicated to passionate fans from across the country. This exciting event, known as the S8UL Gaming Fest, will take place in Bengaluru from July 29-30. The Esports Awards 2023 will be held on 30 November at Resorts World Las Vegas. 

Mumbai: There is excitement amongst fans as the inaugural season of the Pro Panja League, which takes place between 28 July and 13 August at the IGI Stadium in New Delhi, starts today. To engage viewers for Pro Panja League, which will be live telecast on Sony Sports Ten 3 and Sony Sports Ten 3 HD channels, Pro Panja League and Sony Sports Network launched a 360-degree marketing campaign highlighting the special aspects of the league to engage audiences and scale it to new heights in the world of sports entertainment. 

The founders of Pro Panja League, Parvin Dabas and Preeti Jhangiani are well-known bollywood actors so it is not surprising that they collaborated with bollywood for the first season of the league. Pro Panja League launched a campaign film, voiced by the well-known actor and film director, Vijay Raaz, that takes audiences into the minds and emotions of the arm wrestlers at the table.  

Given the synergy between the moviegoers and the sports viewers, Pro Panja League and Sony Sports Network also collaborated with Bollywood superstar Sunny Deol who will be seen next in the highly-awaited Gadar 2. The campaign film features Sunny Deol, in an arm-wrestling match against Pro Panja League athlete Sanjay Deswal.

An interesting piece of trivia is that Parvin’s first film, Dillagi, was Sunny Deol’s directorial debut in 1999 and they also starred together in the 2003 blockbuster The Hero: Love Story of a Spy. The two of them have collaborated once again after 20 long years, one could see their camaraderie off-camera. 

Pro Panja League co-founder Parvin Dabas said, “I believe that a well-executed campaign has the power to connect, engage, and inspire communities around the world.  We collaborated with Sony Sports Network and launched the #LagaPanja campaign to promote ‘Bharat Ka Khel’. It’s not just about the technology, but the creative storytelling and meaningful interactions that can truly make a campaign a game-changer and we have done just that, by exquisitely weaving a story of passion and arm-wrestling going hand in hand.”

“Panja already has its reach in metropolitan and in tier-two and tier-three cities. The hashtag #LagaPanja encapsulates the spirit of the sport and aims to ignite the feeling of passion among sporting fans from all walks of life,” he added.

Earlier, Pro Panja League and Sony Sports Network also launched the #LagaPanja campaign to promote ‘Bharat Ka Khel’, where the players can be seen sweating it out during their training session with their eyes set on the big prize.

Links to watch the campaign films: 

Moreover, the Pro Panja League players’ draft, which took place on July 11, 2023, where a total of 180 players were divided into six teams, was telecast live on Sony Sports Network’s YouTube and Facebook channels. The players’ draft was hosted by sports presenter and entrepreneur, Charu Sharma, who spoke about the importance of turning arm-wrestling into a professional league for the athletes who want to make a career.

Pro Panja League, which will be hosted at the IGI Stadium in New Delhi between July 28 to August 13, has already captured the attention of audiences with its unique format. Six teams of 30 players each will compete across 10 weight divisions comprising men’s, women’s and physically challenged categories. The league will feature six teams – Mumbai Muscle, Kiraak Hyderabad, Rohtak Rowdies, Ludhiana Lions, Baroda Badshahs, and Kochi KD’s.

Pro Panja League Season 1 takes place between 28 July 2023 and 13 August 2023 and will be broadcast LIVE on Sony Sports Ten 3 and Sony Sports Ten 3 HD and will be available to live stream on FanCode.

Pro Panja League is India’s biggest Arm Wrestling Tournament and the World’s fastest-growing Arm Wrestling League. The arm wrestling fever has gripped the nation, with the inaugural season of the Pro Panja League set to kick off. The first season will take place at the IGI Stadium in the nation’s capital between July 28 and August 13.  As many as 180 top arm-wrestlers from the country have been drafted among six teams – Kiraak Hyderabad, Mumbai Muscle, Rohtak Rowdies, Ludhiana Lions, Baroda Badshahs, and Kochi KD’s, for the inaugural edition.

Pro Panja League co-founder Parvin Dabas made a huge announcement regarding prize money for the winning team of the first season. “For the first edition, we have decided to give Rs 20 lakh to the winning team. We will be offering prize money of Rs five Lakh for the runners-up,” he revealed. Pro Panja League has already differentiated itself in a unique way in its approach, as it is offering equal money for players across all men’s, women’s, and specially-abled categories, as per their rankings. And now, Pro Panja League also announced additional prize money for the Player of the Tournament.

Indiantelevision.com in an email interaction spoke to Pro Panja League co-founder Parvin Dabas.

On arm wrestling being recognised sport abroad and the Pro Panja League’s contribution to the sport in India

I believe that the Pro Panja League has significantly changed the sport in India, where it was previously unknown. There were amateurs competing in National and State Championships, but nobody outside of the neighbourhood even heard about them. However, there is a lot of awareness about it currently. It is gradually but surely winning the hearts of the viewers. There are currently more than 500 players competing in what once was a modest regional district event where 50 participants attended. We have noticed a difference over time, and I have no doubt that the number will continue to rise in the future. My objective is to make our athletes the best in the world, but I believe they still need additional training.

On the reason behind launching the Pro Panja League and the challenges faced

Since I was little, I have always enjoyed sports like basketball and taekwondo. My thinking was always inclined toward sports. I am aware that everyone enjoys watching sports, thus it is not a prerequisite for working in the sports marketing industry. Combat sports have always drawn me in and I identified and discovered that Panja is a sport that transcends boundaries. We call it “Laga Panja Kyuki Yeh Hai Bharat ka khel” since it is a sport unique to India and has an Indian-sounding name. Our players come from across the country so we wanted to enter a sport where we could make a difference. Speaking of difficulties, Covid-19 has been particularly difficult. We had just opened three weeks before, and we had already held two tournaments so that presented the biggest hurdle. However, that did not stop it. We kept expanding, and I believe Covid-19 allowed us, in a way, to slow down and comprehend how sports fans consume content. As a result, I believe the audience will enjoy the way we structured and entertained them.

On the initiatives to encourage women in this sport

Men, women, and athletes with special needs all share the same stage in our league, making it one of the very few, if not the only ones. In the league, both genders have equal possibilities. We have held projects and activities focused on women throughout the past few years. For instance, we held a competition at IIT-Mumbai where we awarded cash prizes to the top five male competitors who could defeat our female champion, Chetna Sharma. No one could put her down and she featured on almost every publication! Chetna even got a job promotion. All of our female athletes have motivational tales, and we bring that out across our social media platforms.

On advertisers and sponsors supporting the Pro Panja League

I believe that the Pro Panja League’s appeal to advertisers and sponsors stems from the fact that it is a combat sport that doesn’t involve violence. Like I always say, even if you get hurt, you won’t bleed. I find it to be an aggressive bloodless fighting sport. Despite having all of those combat-related components, it is ultimately something that the whole family can watch. When everyone can easily comprehend it, it is incredibly enjoyable to watch. There are more rules that you pick up along the road, but you already know that one guy has to get his opponent’s hand down.