Category: Sports

Mumbai: JioCinema, the digital rights holder of the TATA Indian Premier League, will invite fans to the TATA IPL Fan Parks at Nagpur, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Anand, and Vijayawada, on May 28 for the final game of the season. The TATA IPL final will be live streamed on JioCinema this Sunday at 7:30 PM, which will be a repeat of the season’s opening fixture when Chennai Super Kings walk out to take on defending champions Gujarat Titans.

Earlier this week, Chennai Super Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 15 runs in Qualifier 1 to book a spot in the final. Gujarat Titans then comfortably beat Mumbai Indians by 62 runs in Qualifier 2 to keep their title defence hopes alive, courtesy a Shubman Gill blitzkrieg. 

Access to the TATA IPL Fan Parks will be free of cost and fans can enjoy the live streaming of the TATA IPL final on giant LED screens via the JioCinema app. The Fan Parks will be a great family experience to enjoy an evening out along with an array of exciting offerings for people of all ages including a dedicated Family Zone, Kids Zone, Food & Beverages, and the JioCinema Experience Zone. Gates will open at 7 PM.

JioCinema’s coverage of the TATA IPL has already broken several records viewership records in its first season itself. Among them, JioCinema set the peak concurrent viewership world record of 2.57 Cr. during the Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians Qualifier 2 on May 26. This was the fourth time that the peak concurrency viewership was breached in this season alone. JioCinema also clocked over 1500 Cr. video views in the first seven weeks of the TATA IPL 2023, another global benchmark in digital sports viewing.

The high engagement on JioCinema has been prodded on following the launch of Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan last month, a new contest that gives fans a chance to win one car every match thus enhancing their experience while watching the TATA IPL vis-à-vis passively watching the league on legacy platforms. Over 50 people have driven home a spanking new car in the contest till date with prizes up for grabs even in the final match.

Mumbai: A 12-member team from the global MotoGP commercial rights holder, Dorna Sports, recently concluded an advance reconnaissance visit to India to assess race preparations at the Buddha International Circuit. Led by Dorna’s events director, Norma Luna, the team also comprised officials of MotoGP™ marketing and sponsorship teams.

The purpose of the visit was to recce the highly anticipated MotoGP Bharat preparations ahead of the scheduled race to be held on September 22-24. Luna was accompanied by Daniel Trujillo (technical director), and Enrique Aguilar (live coverage director) among others. The team meticulously surveyed the circuit to evaluate various technical aspects as well as inspect the broadcast setup facilities and assess various other essential requirements for delivering a world-class event.

FairStreet Sports COO, Pushkar Nath Srivastava, the event’s Indian promoter, was confident in the venue’s ability to put up the country’s biggest annual sporting spectacle show and said, “With less than 124 days for the mega event, we had some important operational discussions as well as detailed marketing, branding, sponsorship and conversations related to the broadcast of the race. It is heartening to see how important MotoGP™ Bharat is from the global perspective as well as for us, the Indian stakeholders alongside the government”.

A big part of hosting MotoGP is also to showcase their tourism potential and during their visit, the Dorna team also had the opportunity to explore one of the world’s most iconic landmarks and the pride of Uttar Pradesh, the Taj Mahal. Located at just a two-hour drive from the racetrack, the team was captivated by the Taj’s grandeur and left in awe. 

MotoGP Bharat will not only encourage a diverse range of fans to come and witness the onsite marvels but also explore the unique milieu of rich culture, heritage and history. 

Srivastava further added, “We anticipate a significant boost to the tourism industry, and this event is poised to unlock tremendous investment opportunities for the state of Uttar Pradesh”.

Scheduled as 13 races on the calendar, India will see 42 teams and 84 riders in action across MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 categories. It will include names like Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati, Marc Marquez of Repsol Honda Team, Marco Bezzecchi of Mooney, Brad Binder and Jack Miller of Redbull, and Jorge Martin of Prima, all set to hit the Indian soil soon.

Mumbai: adidas has unveiled “Move For The Planet” a new global initiative that will harness the collective activity of sporting communities across the world. 

adidas is encouraging people to turn activity into action as it pledges to donate €1 to Common Goal for every 10 minutes of activity logged across 34 sports in the adidas Running app between 1 June – 12 June up to €1.5m. The contributions will support projects around the globe that educate and engage communities on sustainability through sport.  

adidas global purpose marketing & senior director Ashley Czarnowski said, “Move For The Planet is an opportunity to harness the world’s love of sport to support some of the communities that need it most. The impact of the climate crisis is being felt more severely in some places than others, however, the one thing that unites us all is our love for sport. So, between 1 June and 12 June, we’re encouraging our global sporting community to join the movement and move for the places we play – it doesn’t matter how we move, just that we move to make a difference.”

Common Goal will direct contributions raised by Move For The Planet to projects in countries including Colombia, Greece, South Africa and Pakistan. Whether it’s renewing a community’s sports pitch using recycled materials or providing training on how to reduce plastic waste in sports facilities, the varied programs that have been selected focus on some of the places most impacted by the effects of climate change.  

Move For The Planet is part of adidas’ wider sustainability initiatives as the company continues its mission to make what’s best for the athlete better for the planet. Earlier this year, adidas announced that it is ahead of schedule in its journey to replace virgin polyester with recycled polyester in its products wherever possible by the end of 2024. In 2022, 96 per cent of all the polyester adidas used was recycled. 

However, using recycled materials does not mean that the problem is solved, and Move For The Planet represents a broadening of adidas’ focus beyond its 2024 recycled polyester goal.

Mumbai: Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) is set to bring back world-class table tennis action to India in partnership with India’s premier sports network — Viacom18 as the exclusive media partner for Season 4. The partnership will see the league live-streamed on JioCinema and broadcasted on Sports18.  

The franchise-based league — promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Vita Dani under the auspices of the Table Tennis Federation of India, is scheduled from July 13 to 30 at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune.

“The partnership with Viacom18 signifies a notable milestone for the growth of UTT and will offer the supporters unprecedented access to high-quality action from the upcoming season. We will work together to amplify the league’s prominence and thrill, to highlight the exceptional abilities of our players,” said Bajaj.

The addition of the UTT strengthens Viacom18 Sports’ diversified portfolio of world-class sporting events, including the TATA IPL, TATA WPL, Diamond League, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, MotoGP, NBA, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and select BWF events.

Viacom18 Sports head of strategy, rights acquisitions and partnerships Hursh Shrivastava commented, “We are focused on offering our fans the most exciting sports action and table tennis combination of fast-paced and skilful gameplay makes it one of the most visually captivating sports. With Ultimate Table Tennis, we bring the thrill of world-class table tennis action to sports fans in India on JioCinema and Sports18.”

UTT has witnessed the emergence of talents such as Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, Manav Thakkar, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Manika Batra with their impressive performances in previous editions. It has also seen the participation of several global stars including Austria’s reigning European champion Sofia Polcanova (World No. 12), Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Cheng I-Ching (World No. 9) of Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong’s two-time World Championship medallist Wong Chun Ting and World No. 11 Doo Hoi Kem.

Talking about the association, Dani said, “We have seen impressive growth of the sport and a rise in its popularity within the first three seasons. And now, with Viacom18 as our official broadcast and streaming partner, I am certain that we will attract new fans who can be guaranteed of a new and modern viewing experience.”

Mumbai: Globale Media, a mobile and web advertising company has begun its investment journey with Rooter, India’s leading gaming & e-sports content platform. A first-of-its-kind investment made by the ad-tech company, which has offices across the SEA and MENA regions. Rooter raised an investment of $16 million (131 crores) through debt and equity. The growth round led by Lightbox, also saw participation from Trifecta Capital, Pivot Ventures, Baldota Family Office, Denlow Private Trust, Venture Catalysts, and Potential Ventures.

Spearheaded by Globale Media founder and CEO Bhavesh Talreja which is one of the leading mobile and web advertising companies in India. And with an in-depth network in the gaming industry, it only made sense to invest in a gaming-focused startup when India is steadily witnessing growth in this sector.

Rooter’s latest capital infusion, which closed on the back of a strong balance sheet, will provide additional fuel to accelerate the company’s growth plans. The company will be utilising the funds to strengthen its technology capabilities, sharpen its product bouquet, and further enhance user experience on its platform. It will also be pursuing market expansion and cross-border growth opportunities, including potential strategic acquisitions.

With plans to always stay ahead in the game, Globale Media also launched GMX- a programmatic self-serve cloud-based platform for unique audience segmentation a while ago.

Commenting on the investment, Globale Media founder and CEO Bhavesh Talreja said, “The esports and gaming community has been witnessing steady growth lately and will only see a positive trajectory in the coming future. Our aim is to work with Rooter on their monetization front through this investment, as Rooter is one of the biggest esports streaming platforms in India. We were also motivated by their plans of enhancing user experience, market expansion, and industry achievements.”

Rooter founder & CEO Piyush Kumar added, “We have always been closely associated with Globale Media over the years. So, when they expressed their interest in investing in our company, we were heartened by their confidence. Our current fundraising round will provide us with the impetus to further develop our technology framework and pursue organic and inorganic growth opportunities.”

Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) & adidas has announced a brand-new partnership as the kit sponsor for the BCCI. The contract, which runs through March 2028, will give adidas exclusive rights for manufacturing kits across all formats of the game. adidas will be the sole supplier for all match, training & travel wear for the BCCI- including the men’s, women’s & youth teams. Starting June 2023, Team India will be seen in the three stripes for the very first time and will debut their new kit during the World Test Championship Finals.

Cricket remains the most popular sport in India, as well as experiencing continued expansion all over the world – sellout crowds, increased elite competition, and grassroots growth. Indian cricket has also evolved exponentially with a world-class youth system that reliably produces great athletes, a leading domestic league, and a cricketing identity that is revered globally. 

The partnership between the BCCI and adidas will drive the sport forward both on and off the pitch with the sports brand bringing its innovative designs and expertise to Indian cricket. adidas has a long history of equipping some of the best teams in the world with footwear and apparel, created to be the best for the athlete. The BCCI and adidas will also bring their partnership to life by inspiring the next generation of young cricketers and growing the game for all.

Speaking about the partnership, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said, “We are committed to helping grow the game of cricket and could not be more excited to partner with one of the world’s leading sportswear brands, adidas, in this journey. With its rich historical legacy in sports, world-class products, and strong global reach, adidas will play an important role in driving the performance and future success of different categories of Indian cricket”.

Speaking about the partnership, adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden said, “We are proud to partner with BCCI and Team India, the most iconic team in India. Cricket is the most important sport in India, and it is very important for us to be visible and invest in it. We could not have found a better partner than BCCI. I believe India to be the fastest-growing sports market for the next decades. We are very committed to supporting our team to become the best sports brand in India.”

Speaking about the partnership, adidas India GM Neelendra Singh said, “We are beyond excited for this historic moment at adidas, not just in India but also globally. We are proud to see the three stripes on the Indian cricket team. This is our moment to present cricket to the world with high-quality performance products for our athletes. We look forward to creating moments with our consumers through the most celebrated sport in India. adidas truly believes in the potential of cricket in India and through this partnership with BCCI we will accelerate growth.”

With its rich history in sport through its long-term and innovative agreements with the likes of World Champions AFA (Argentina Football Association), the All Blacks, Major League Soccer, and sports teams all over the globe, the new partnership with the BCCI will further enhance the brand’s presence across the region and strengthen its commitment towards growing sports in India.  In addition to the men’s & women’s senior national cricket team, adidas will also kit India “A” men’s and women’s national team, India “B” men’s and women’s national team, India U-19 men’s and women’s national team, their coaches, and staff.

Mumbai: Star Sports, the official television broadcasters of the TATA IPL 2023, announces the highly anticipated national finale of the record-setting Incredible Premier League School Quiz. This ground-breaking initiative has captivated young cricket fans throughout the country, igniting their passion as the ongoing marquee tournament reaches its business end. One of the key highlights of the Incredible IPL School Quiz has been its seamless integration with the IPL broadcast, incorporating the engaging “Incredible Question of the Day” feature. This interactive component has challenged young minds and deepened their connection with the league they love. 

The national finale of the Incredible IPL School Quiz is set to take place on Tuesday, 23 May 2023, at 5 PM, in the Star Sports studio in Mumbai. 

This eagerly awaited event will serve as the thrilling culmination of the quiz, where the top eight teams from across the nation will showcase their skills and compete for the coveted championship title. The response to the quiz has been overwhelming, with a remarkable surge in viewership among children aged 2 to 14 years across all editions of the IPL.

The Incredible IPL School Quiz will be further enhanced by the presence of some of India’s former cricketers, who will serve as mentors to inspire and guide the finalists. Star Sports takes immense pride in involving young cricket enthusiasts from every corner of India through the Incredible IPL School Quiz. This endeavor has provided a unique platform for kids to showcase their cricketing knowledge and created a significant avenue for brands targeting this specific consumer cohort.

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will mentor the teams representing the North Zone, consisting of Deepak Memorial Academy in Sagar and St. Anthony’s Senior Secondary School in Udaipur. Esteemed former India cricketer S. Sreesanth will mentor the teams from Kenbridge School in Gulbarga and Delhi Public School in Hyderabad, representing the South Zone. The East Zone will be represented by DPS, Kalinga, and DPS, Dimapur, mentored by the legendary former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan. Lastly, Manibai Gujarati High School in Amravati and Our Lady’s School in Mumbai will represent the West Zone under the guidance of former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan.

West Zone mentor Irfan Pathan said, “It’s heartening to see young kids travel from across the country for the finale! This has been a wonderful initiative to engage the young fans and give them a platform to showcase their love for the league we love! I’m excited to be associated with the West Zone and am looking forward to the finale!”

South Zone mentor Sreesanth said, “Having spent some time with the teams, it’s clear to see they’re pumped to be here! This quiz and the upcoming finale have served as the perfect stage for the young fans who follow every ball of our very special league to flaunt their knowledge! I can’t wait for the finale and hopefully one of my teams will take the trophy home!”

The heat is on, and not just on the field!

Watch as @harbhajan_singh, @iamyusufpathan, @Irfan_Pathan and @sreesanth_36 mentor their zones to the title of #IPLSchoolQuiz Champions!

Tune-in to the FINAL at #IPLOnStar
Tuesday May 23 | 5 PM | Star Sports Network#BetterTogether pic.twitter.com/MSL3c4tnLV

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 21, 2023

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Mumbai: str8bat, a consumer tech company in sports, focused on providing actionable insights for players looking to better their game, was a technology partner on Cricket Ka Ticket, a cricket reality show by COLORS and Royals Sports Group-owned franchise Rajasthan Royals IPL Team. 

The show, hosted by Mandira Bedi, was curated to unearth the best cricketing talent from across the nation. Twenty-two cricket players, both men, and women selected from across the nation, were chosen for the show. These players were shortlisted from thousands using the str8bat cricket bat sensor that supported judges by providing data-driven insights for players ready to turn their dreams into reality. The sensor was also used at various other levels of the competition to gauge the improvement levels of all players, while the mentors used the insights to help players better their games. The analysis and data provided helped mentors support the players by fixing their bat angles, bat speed, a 360-degree replay of their shots, and more without additional cameras. 

On their partnership with Cricket Ka Ticket, str8bat CEO and Co-Founder Gagan Daga said, “At str8bat, we have always believed that you cannot improve what you cannot measure. We are overwhelmed to be able to make a difference in the lives of budding cricketers and help improve their game right from the grassroots level through our technology and platforms like Cricket Ka Ticket. The partnership with Cricket Ka Ticket and Rajasthan Royals has been a delightful amalgamation of what is to be the next generation of cricket players and will create a huge impact on the sports industry!”.

The show is available to watch for cricket fans around the world on Viacom18’s flagship Hindi entertainment channel COLORS and OTT platform Voot.

Mumbai: The much-awaited TCS World 10K Race held in Bengaluru, is known for its challenging course and elite participants from all over the world. It once again witnessed an extraordinary display of athleticism, with 29 adidas global and Indian athletes outperforming their competitors and dominating the podium.

Crossing the finish line with a time of 00 hours 27 minutes 57 seconds, Sabastain Sawe emerged victorious in the International Elite Men’s category, wearing the record-breaking adidas ADIZERO TAKUMI SEN 9. Following suit was Rodrigue Kwizera finishing in second place.

It surely was a podium sweep for adidas’ ADIZERO franchise as joining the men on the podium from the International Elite Women’s category was Fotyen Tesfaye finishing in second place along with Dera Dida in third place. Along with Seema Yadav claiming third place in the India Elite Women’s category. We also had 11 runners from the adidas speed squad finishing the race and owning the podiums in their respective categories, wearing the adidas ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 3.

Conquering the world of racing, the ADIZERO franchise has been the front-runner in breaking records, dominating the races, and topping the podiums. With eight World Championship titles, two broken World Records, and 50 per cent of all Major Marathons won in 2022, ADIZERO dominated races last year. But with the recent wins at the Boston Marathon and now claiming 16 podium wins at the TCS World 10K race, the year 2023 also belongs to adidas’ ADIZERO-wearing athletes.

With a focus on empowering athletes and maximising their potential, adidas has consistently strived to provide top-of-the-line sports equipment. The athletes’ outstanding performances serve as a testament to the brand’s commitment to excellence and its ability to enhance athletic performance.

Mumbai: The stage is set for the inaugural season of the Pro Panja League to kick off with Asia’s biggest arm-wrestling promotion set to premiere on Sony Sports Network from 28 July 2023. With the final set to take place on 13 August 2023, the 17-day sporting event is ready to take armwrestling across India to the next level and revolutionise the sport all around the country.

To add to the level of excitement, Pro Panja League has announced their first two franchises with Punit Balan Studios Private Ltd. acquiring the Mumbai franchise and Ned Ventures Led By Gautam Reddy getting the Hyderabad franchise.

Speaking of his association with the Pro Panja League, Balan said, “One of the most popular and fast games across the world is arm-wrestling. It is a combination of strength and technique to pin down your opponent. The game has a unique and ancient history. I am glad to be associated with Pro Panja League because our group supports non-cricketing sports. We want to give equal importance to all sports. There is a lot of excitement around Pro Panja League among the masses. We want to make this league the next big thing in India.”

Reddy also addressed the reasons behind investing in the Pro Panja League franchise and said, “We are delighted to associate ourselves with Pro Panja League. We have always believed in giving prominence to the regional sports in India, like we have done with Kabaddi and Pro Panja League shares similar vision as ours. Panja is a sport which is a part of Indian culture and we are delighted to see it getting the platform it deserves after a long time. We are happy with the work the co-owners Mr. Parvin Dabas and Ms. Preeti Jhangiani have done over the past few years. We are confident Pro Panja League will change the landscape of armwrestling, not only in India, but all over the world.”

Both Balan and Reddy already have a vast experience of successfully running teams in sporting leagues. Punit Balan is an entrepreneur, filmmaker, social worker and a sports enthusiast and owns teams across multiple sports leagues in India. Meanwhile, Reddy is also the owner of a prominent kabaddi team which competes in one of India’s biggest professional leagues.

“We are glad to see prominent businesses of such great caliber and vast experience associating themselves with the Pro Panja League. We are grateful to them for showing their interest in armwrestling. Their presence promises a cracking contest in the first season of the Pro Panja League. Mumbai and Hyderabad are two regions which are hugely popular among arm wrestling fans and we are confident the two teams will make their presence known in the first season,” said Pro Panja League co-founder Parvin Dabas.