Category: Sports

Mumbai: In preparation for the forthcoming MotoGP Bharat scheduled to take place at the Buddh International Circuit from 22 to 24 September, a crucial tri-party meeting was held on 10 July, to assess the security arrangements. The meeting, attended by key stakeholders including the Gautam Buddha Nagar police administration, officials of MotoGP Bharat and Jaypee Group, focused on various aspects related to ensuring the safety and smooth conduct of the event.

Representatives from the side of the local police administration, including Anand Kulkarni (ACP), Saad Mirza Khan (DCP), Ashok Kumar (Addl DCP), Pawan Kumar Gautam (ACP-3), Sanjay Kumar Singh (SHO Dankaur), and his team, were present for the security recce.

Members from Jaypee Group included S M Azmat, Brigadier Sudhir Lanba, and Major Nishant Srivastava, attended the meeting along with FairStreet Sports officials.

“It was a fruitful meeting. The local police understand the importance of MotoGP Bharat to India and have promised full cooperation in every way possible. After the meeting the focus has been to amplify the smooth organisation and logistics of the event,” said the Indian counterpart of MotoGP in India, Fairstreet Sports chief operating officer Pushkar Nath Srivastava.

Key points of discussion included a comprehensive review of the security arrangements and traffic plan for the race. The attendees also discussed feasibility of helipad access for VIP movements and the ability of handling VIP arrivals with utmost priority.

The team also conducted a thorough inspection of the circuit and evaluated the traffic management plans. Moreover, the team visited the track to gain insights into spectator management and ensure a seamless experience for the audience.

Following the meeting, Joint CP instructed the concerned authorities to develop a detailed plan, incorporating the discussed points, and submit it to DCP Greater Noida for further review within the next 10 days.

Mumbai: In their quest of qualifying for the 15th World Esports Championships, India’s DOTA 2 team is gearing up to go all out against the top teams from the continent in the Asian LAN qualifiers taking place in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh.

A total of eight elite DOTA 2 teams will be competing in the Asian qualifiers for the prize pool of $12,500 across two groups from July 10-13. Team India led by captain Manav Kunte (mnz), alongside Vishal Vernekar (HBK), Abhishek Yadav (Abhi-), Shahbaz Hussain (PinkMaN), and Krish Gupta (Krish`) will begin their campaign against Mongolia and the Philippines on the opening day before going head-to-head with Kyrgyzstan on Day 2.

All group stage matches will be contested in the best-of-one format followed by the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and grand finals which will be played in the best-of-three format. The champions will be rewarded with $7000 in prize money with the second and third-placed teams being awarded $3,500 and $2,000 respectively.

Talking about the preparations and goals of the unit, team captain Manav Kunte commented, “Going into the Asian qualifiers, our goal is crystal clear: to qualify for the 15th World Esports Championships. The journey will be challenging against some of the best DOTA 2 outfits from Asia but we will go out all guns blazing and leave no room for errors. We are confident of our talent as a team and apart from our preparations, our team bonding as well as strategies will help us come out on top. Together, we strive to make our nation proud and qualify for the prestigious event.”

Having triumphed in the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2023, conducted by the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) earlier this year, the team made their way to the Asian qualifiers by convincingly defeating Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal in the South Asian qualifiers in May. The squad’s prominent players Vishal and Abhishek were also part of the historic DOTA 2 team that won the bronze medal at the Commonwealth Esports Championships in 2022.

“Our DOTA 2 team has been working diligently in their preparation for the Asian qualifiers. They have shown exceptional dedication and commitment in order to excel against the top teams from Asia. Judging by the team’s performances in the NESC 2023 followed by the South Asian qualifiers we have no doubt that they will utilize their experience and expertise to ace these qualifiers. Everyone at ESFI wishes them the best of luck in their pursuit of victory,” said Esports Federation of India president Vinod Tiwari.

One of the country’s top sports & Esports communication agencies, Artsmith-Concepts & Visions, will continue its support to the Esports Federation of India as their official communication partner long with Hama, FITGMR, Mandeha, Upthrust & Inox as Training, Coaching, Psychology, Execution & Multiplex Partners.

Following the DOTA 2 qualifiers, India’s male and female CS:GO teams will also begin with their Asian qualifiers. The male team’s qualifiers will take place from 13 – 17 July while the female team’s qualifiers will be held from 15 – 17 July.

The country’s well-renowned Tekken 7 professional Abhinav Tejan and eFootball athlete Ibrahim Gulrez have already secured their qualification at the 15th WEC that has a whopping prize pool of $500,000 (Rs 4.12 crore) and is set to be the largest edition of the tournament to date with at least 130 countries participating in eFootball, DOTA 2, Tekken7, Mobile Legends, PUBG: Mobile and CS:GO.

Mumbai: Even though it was pouring heavily, excitement filled the air as MotoGP Bharat team gathered at the residence of Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, to invite him as the Guest of Honour for India’s most awaited MotoGP race, scheduled to be held at the Buddh International Circuit on 22 – 24 September.

“The helmet in my hand says a lot. MotoGP is going to take place in India for the very first time and it’s one of the biggest motorsports event for the country which will take place in Gautambuddh Nagar. This race will also be special as for the very first time an Indian racer will also be taking part. This is a great initiative and moment for the racing community. The event will also act as a catalyst in promoting racing bikes and the growth of automobile industry. For many racers and young bike enthusiasts who want to pursue racing will get an opportunity to watch and learn about the sport in India itself. Going forward, I firmly believe that racing will really become big and like many other sports create milestones and glory for the country,” Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Anurag Singh Thakur said after his meeting.

The Union Sports Minister also showcased his daredevil spirit braving the torrential rain as he hopped on a bike and joined the group of bikers for a spin who had come along with the officials of FairStreet Sports, the Indian promoters of  MotoGP Bharat.

“Despite the rain, we were filled with excitement as we extended our invitation to Hon’ble Minister as the Guest of Honour for MotoGP Bharat igniting the passion that drives us all. Together, we aim to create an unforgettable MotoGP Bharat experience. With Anurag Thakur joining the bikers to take a ride despite the weather only shows how gripping MotoGP fever is and has every potential to rave up Bharat,” commented FairStreet Sports chief operating officer Pushkar Nath Srivastava.

The Union Minister also interacted with the team, signed a helmet as memorabilia and later thanked the bikers for the adventurous ride.

Mumbai: 1Stadia, a prominent US-based company specializing in technological advancements in the world of sports and media rights, has announced its acquisition of the exclusive broadcast rights for all FIFA events in 2023, including the highly anticipated FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, FIFA Club World Cup 2023, FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2023, and FIFA Under 17 World Cup 2023. This significant agreement between 1Stadia and FIFA will bring unparalleled sporting action and excitement to millions of fans across the Indian subcontinent.

Under this licensing agreement, 1Stadia secures exclusive broadcasting rights for the FIFA tournaments across the Indian subcontinent, encompassing India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. Football enthusiasts in these nations can now look forward to comprehensive coverage and live telecasts of the most prestigious tournaments in the world of football. 

1Stadia CEO and co-founder Sangeet Shirodkar said, “We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of the exclusive broadcast rights for FIFA events in the Indian subcontinent. The FIFA events covered under this agreement hold a special place in the hearts of football fans worldwide, and the acquisition of these broadcast rights by 1Stadia reflects the company’s dedication to offering premium content to its audience. With an immense global following and an ardent fan base, these tournaments captivate viewers with their thrilling matches, talented players, and moments of triumph”. 

1Stadia president Saradha S said, “Securing the exclusive broadcast rights for FIFA events in India is a groundbreaking achievement for 1Stadia, propelling us toward an even more promising future. This milestone represents a pivotal moment in our journey to expand our global presence and connect with wider audiences. India, with its immense passion for football, presents an incredible opportunity for us to deliver unparalleled sporting experiences to millions of fans and create unforgettable moments”. 

The broadcast rights acquisition positions 1Stadia as the go-to destination for sports enthusiasts in the Indian subcontinent. The company will leverage its state-of-the-art infrastructure and advanced broadcasting capabilities to offer viewers an immersive and engaging journey through these prestigious FIFA events. Fans can anticipate extensive coverage, in-depth analysis, expert commentary, and behind-the-scenes glimpses, bringing them closer to the action like never before.

Mumbai: Major League Cricket (MLC) has announced a media rights partnership that will see the first-ever edition of the landmark competition air exclusively in India on Viacom18’s sports network. The multi-platform coverage will include live streaming on JioCinema and broadcast television coverage on Sports18, starting on Thursday, 13 July, when the Texas Super Kings take on the Los Angeles Knight Riders at Grand Prairie Stadium near Dallas, TX.

MLC will feature top-class international talent playing alongside America’s best players for the Los Angeles Knight Riders, MI New York, San Francisco Unicorns, Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings and Washington Freedom. The inaugural season will be played in a round-robin format with the four best performing teams competing in a multi-game playoff and final round to decide a champion, to be crowned on July 30.

“JioCinema continues to change the landscape of sports consumption, and with Major League Cricket, fans will watch their favourite T20 cricketers and cheer for teams affiliated to their favourite franchisees,” said Viacom18 Sports head of strategy, partnerships & acquisitions Hursh Shrivastava. “Indian viewers love T20 cricket, and we expect them to enjoy the action from the inaugural edition of the league across JioCinema and Sports18.”

“We are delighted to partner with Viacom18 and ensure that the world class T20 action Major League Cricket will feature is widely available in India, streamed on JioCinema and broadcast on Sports18,” said Major League Cricket co-founder Vijay Srinivasan. “Our six teams feature T20 superstars fans in India love to watch, and there’s no better partner to showcase world class sports broadcasts in the world’s largest cricket market than Viacom18’s channels.”

Four of the six teams in the league feature investors from owners of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises including MI New York (five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians), the LA Knight Riders (two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders), the Texas Super Kings (five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings) and the Seattle Orcas (Delhi Capitals). Fans will witness a slew of their favourite IPL stars featuring in MLC.

Kieron Pollard, Rashid Khan, Nicholas Pooran, Trent Boult, Dewald Brevis and Kagiso Rabada will represent MI New York. LA Knight Riders will see Sunil Narine, Andre Rusell, Jason Roy, Adam Zampa and Martin Guptill suit up alongside former India U19 captain Unmukt Chand. A core of Chennai Super Kings stars will form the Texas Super Kings overseas group, captained by Faf Du Plessis alongside Ambati Rayudu, Devon Conway, Dwayne Bravo and Mitchel Santner.

The Seattle Orcas drafted former India U19 left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh as the first pick in the first-ever Domestic Draft for Major League Cricket. Joining Singh on the Orcas are two top international T20 exponents in Quinton De Kock and Mitchell Marsh. Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, Proteas fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen and hard-hitting Kiwi batsman Glenn Phillips will be joined by former India U19 bowler Saurabh Netravalkar as part of the Washington Freedom.

Marcus Stoinis will bring in strong international and franchise cricket experience alongside fellow Australian Aaron Finch, who will lead the San Francisco Unicorns. In the draft, the Unicorns picked former New Zealand international Corey Anderson in the first round, followed up by England’s World Cup winner Liam Plunkett in the second. Pakistan duo Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf were recently announced as their final signings with Shane Watson as their head coach.

The addition of the Major League Cricket strengthens Viacom18’s portfolio of world-class sporting events, including the Indian Premier League, SA20, India’s Tour of West Indies 2023, the Paris Olympics 2024, Ultimate Table Tennis, the World Padel League, the Global Chess League, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ™, the NBA, Diamond League, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and top BWF events.

Mumbai: Ahead of the players’ draft set to take place on 11 July in New Delhi for the inaugural season, Pro Panja League, Asia’s biggest arm-wrestling promotion, in partnership with Sony Sports Network launched the #LagaPanja campaign to promote ‘Bharat Ka Khel’. The thrilling campaign films, created by Pro Panja co-founders Parvin Dabas and Preeti Jhangiani, are being telecast on Sony Sports Network to excite viewers for the upcoming action-packed inaugural season.

Panja (or armwrestling) is #BharatKaKhel in its true sense, having its reach across metropolitan as well as tier-two and tier-three cities. The hashtag #LagaPanja has been designed as a call for Indian sports fans to challenge their friends, family members, colleagues on the table. The campaign films promoting #BharatkaKhel aims to evoke emotions of passion, patriotism, and nostalgia, while also providing viewers with a glimpse of the action-packed competition in store.

Pro Panja League, which will be hosted at the IGI Stadium in New Delhi between July 28 and 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 of men’s, women’s and physically challenged categories. The first two teams – Mumbai Muscle owned by Mr. Punit Balan, and Kiraak Hyderabad owned by Mr. Gautam Reddy – have already been announced.

Speaking on the campaign on Sony Sports Network, Dabas said, “Panja is the only combat sport that can work for the masses in India as it is both family friendly and entertaining. It is also sponsor friendly because it does not require hefty spending on infrastructure. All you need is a table. The audience is already familiar with the sport and hence, they will not only get to view professional armwrestling for the first time, but will also be able to issue #LagaPanja challenges at home, schools or offices and directly engage with the sport.”

Pro Panja League, has taken a unique approach to develop the market before the inaugural season and has hosted several promotional shows and Ranking Tournaments across India since its inception in 2020. With shows across Gwalior Fort, Gateway of India, Mumbai, and Majestic Pride Casino Boat in Goa, Pro Panja League has already garnered over 250 million social media views, which is a clear indication that it a promising prospect for both advertisers & consumers.

Pro Panja League Season 1 will take place between 28 July 2023 and 13 August 2023 and will be broadcast LIVE on Sony Ten 1 SD and Sony Ten 1 HD channels.

Mumbai: LALIGA has kicked off a new era with Electronic Arts Inc., the competition’s new strategic partner for the next five seasons, with a launch ceremony surrounded by clubs and strategic partners. This transformation includes a major brand evolution, touching on strategy and positioning, but also extends to tangible changes in LALIGA’s audiovisual broadcasting and digital ecosystem.

LALIGA’s new direction reflects the growth it has experienced over the last decade to become the largest football ecosystem in the world. This global transformation began with the announcement of the brand’s new positioning and purpose under the slogan “The Power of our Fútbol,” a launch with which the competition reaffirms its commitment to inspire and leave a positive impact on society.

LALIGA president Javier Tebas said, “Today we begin a new era that represents a revolutionary change for both Spanish football and the industry. And we do so surrounded by clubs and strategic partners such as EA SPORTS, without whom none of this would have been possible. Together we want to create a better football for society and a better society for our football.”

The support of strategic partners and associates has been and will continue to be fundamental. LALIGA offers a unique product that makes it a key player in the industry. It is multi-target, since it reaches people of different ages and backgrounds; it is multi-engagement, and can be interacted with in different ways and with different intensity; and it is multicultural, thanks to its strong global presence.

LALIGA will continue in its commitment to expanding the global football ecosystem together with the worldwide industry leaders with which it partners such as Microsoft, PUMA, Mahou San Miguel and BKT, all while not losing sight of both regional & local partners and adapting to the needs of each market.

A strategic alliance set to revolutionize the football industry.

The union of LALIGA and EA SPORTS is the culmination of a relationship consolidated over the last 10 years, but which now moves on to a new level; the leading games publisher becomes the first ever international partner to be title sponsor of the competition.

EA SPORTS VP of brand, David Jackson said, “LALIGA uniquely share our vision for a fan-first future of football, and this partnership brings us the opportunity to reframe the way in which fans engage with the game. Combining our expertise in building globally diverse audiences with LALIGA’s spirit of innovation, we will continuously challenge each other, learn, and grow together as partners. As we enter a new era with EA SPORTS FC, we’re excited for our LALIGA partnership to come to life in a variety of ways, from audio-visual technology to entertainment innovation, from grassroots initiatives to digital communities, all with the intention of bringing fans closer to football.”

This strategic alliance brings with it a disruptive way of viewing football, breaking down barriers between the physical and the digital, and creating a unique product that will reach a much wider audience.

The agreement will also be reflected in the naming of the First Division, which will be renamed “LALIGA EA SPORTS,” and the Second Division, which will be renamed “LALIGA HYPERMOTION,” referring to the cutting-edge technology used in the EA SPORTS FC video game based on motion capture that uses high generation images to create more realistic game experiences.

The two companies’ commitment goes beyond a simply technological and audiovisual transformation, however, as both aim to continue generating a positive impact on society and inspiring the world through football.

Other key partnerships for the 2023/24 season

This new era will bring with it other alliances, including the recently presented partnership with LEGENDS, The Home of Football, presented by LALIGA, a space that brings together the largest memorabilia collection in the history of world football. Located in Madrid, it is the first step in the alliance between LALIGA and LEGENDS, of which UEFA is also a part.  600 pieces of memorabilia worn by players in official FIFA, UEFA, CONMEBOL and LALIGA competitions, among others, are displayed in a building with 4,200 square metres of floor space spread across seven floors and featuring a LALIGA TwentyNine’s LEGENDS sports bar.

Fanatics, meanwhile, becomes the strategic partner with which LALIGA will launch its first online store, with the two companies reaching an omnichannel distribution and manufacturing agreement for the competition’s products. The LALIGA Store ecommerce venture will be launched globally this summer before the start of next season. Fans will be able to access a wide selection of officially licensed LALIGA jerseys, training apparel and accessories, as well as of most LALIGA clubs. The selection will be expanded over time to include clubs from both LALIGA divisions, making it the competition’s largest merchandising catalogue.

A transformation at all levels

Many of the new features presented form part of LALIGA’s digital ecosystem. Beyond aesthetic changes to the website, which will integrate the new logo and corporate colours, this new era will also usher in significant technological changes.

The official LALIGA App has been transformed to offer a significantly more personalized user experience, in line with users’ personal tastes and with relevant information around their preferred clubs. It now incorporates a new social video experience focused on NEAR LIVE content which can be shared more easily on social networks. LALIGA FANTASY will also see a host of new features that will be announced on 12 July, and which will help improve the user experience.

A new way of conceiving football on an audiovisual level will be unveiled from 11 August, featuring a full-scale change of the graphics package in match broadcasts including on-air displays, the lower, and scoreboards with a host of new, more dynamic, and lively graphics. The use of cameras will also change, looking for new shots and angles that will bring fans even closer to EA SPORTS FC. These new features integrated into match broadcasts will showcase new perspectives and angles that, enriched with information, create a much more immersive viewing experience that more closely resembles the video game. 

Mumbai: Star Sports, the country’s leading sports network, will have the exclusive television media rights for the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023, scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka from 30 July to 21 August.

Having bagged the television broadcast rights, Star Sports will telecast the league’s exciting action live, exclusively in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, and MENA region including UAE.

“We are delighted to announce Star Sports as the official television broadcaster for the fourth edition of the Lanka Premier League 2023. Since the inception of the LPL, it has not only showcased an exciting brand of cricket but also provided a platform for Sri Lankan cricket to steadily churn out talented cricketers. With committed stakeholders like Star Sports, we are very excited to bring the global cricketing audience an opportunity to not only witness an extremely competitive and captivating brand of T20 cricket but also dish out unmatched non-live cricketing content for fans across India, Sri Lanka, the subcontinent and MENA region,” commented IPG Group—the official rights holder of LPL, founder & CEO Anil Mohan Sankhdhar.

“I am highly confident that the Lanka Premier League 2023 is going to reach new heights in terms of competitiveness among teams and excitement among fans, thus elevating the tournament to a new level; hence, having a renowned Broadcaster like Star Sports take the tournament to the doorstep of a wider audience is highly welcome,” said Lanka Premier League 2023 tournament director Samantha Dodanwela.

The Star Sports network is home to some of the top international and domestic sports properties including the ICC, Indian Premier League, Cricket Australia, Indian Super League, Premier League, and Wimbledon among many other premier sports properties, and the addition of LPL will surely bolster the cricketing roster of the network even more.

“We welcome this exciting association with LPL. The league has witnessed thrilling action and a great fan base across the subcontinent and MENA region. With this association, the upcoming season will be able to reach a wider audience. We look forward to a great collaboration and a memorable experience for the fans,” said a Star Sports Spokesperson.

The upcoming season will witness the presence of popular international stars such as Babar Azam, Shakib Al Hasan, David Miller as well as popular Sri Lankan stars Thisara Parera and Wanidu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews and Skipper Dasun Shanaka among others as the matches will be held across two venues—Colombo and Kandy, for the fourth season.

Colombo Strikers, Dambulla Aura, Galle Titans, Jaffna Kings and B-Love Kandy will be the five teams fighting for the coveted title.

Mumbai: Bhavani Devi has carved her path to success in the world of fencing, becoming India’s top-ranked fencer and an inspiration to aspiring athletes nationwide. At the Asian Fencing Championships in China recently, Bhavani scripted history by beating Japan’s Misaki Emura, the current World No. one, to win the bronze medal. She became India’s first fencer to qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021 and was conferred with the Arjuna Award for her unwavering determination and groundbreaking achievements. In addition, Bhavani is the only Indian to enter the Top 50 of the world rankings.

Bhavani Devi expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying, “I am delighted to sign with Baseline Ventures, who are known for their commitment to athletes’ growth. With their support and guidance, I am confident that I can unlock new avenues to showcase my skills and achieve my goals and aspirations as a professional athlete”.

Baseline Ventures MD & co-founder Tuhin Mishra welcomed Bhavani and said, “We are thrilled to welcome Bhavani Devi to the Baseline family. Bhavani’s achievements as India’s top fencer are truly remarkable, and she embodies the spirit of determination and perseverance. We are confident that her talent, combined with our expertise, will pave the way for exciting opportunities”.

Born and raised in Chennai, Bhavani Devi discovered her passion for fencing at a young age. Introduced to the sport during a school demonstration, she was captivated by the elegance, precision, and strategic nature of fencing. Notably, she became the first Indian fencer to win a gold medal at an international event (the 2017 Tournoi Satellite Fencing Championship in Iceland). Since then, she has gone on to win multiple medals on the global stage, in the Women’s Individual Sabre discipline. Bhavani Devi will be one to watch the Asian Games later this year, having secured her qualification at the National Trials recently.