ITV

Tag: Abhinav Bindra

  • Apex and Baseline strike deal to boost sports investment in India

    Apex and Baseline strike deal to boost sports investment in India

    BENGALURU: Apex, a Europe-born sports investment firm backed by world-class athletes, has inked a strategic partnership with Baseline Ventures, one of India’s most prominent sports and entertainment outfits. The tie-up aims to unlock new investment opportunities in India’s booming sports ecosystem while giving Indian capital direct access to premium deals across Europe and the US.

    Baseline Ventures, founded in 2014, has carved a formidable position in Indian sport, with businesses spanning athlete management, league creation, licensing, and brand partnerships. The firm represents some of the country’s top names including Smriti Mandhana, Abhinav Bindra, PR Sreejesh, and Nikhat Zareen, and co-founded the Prime Volleyball League.

    Apex brings deep experience in venture capital, growth, and private equity across the global sports and media sectors. Its athlete-led model has drawn in investors such as Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz, and footballers Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marcelo Vieira. Earlier this year, Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian athlete to invest in Apex — a symbolic milestone in its growing Indian play.

    Apex partner & chief commercial officer Pedro Felix da Costa said the move was a “natural step” for the firm: “India is one of the most dynamic sports markets in the world. Partnering locally helps us navigate it with intent, while also offering Indian capital high-quality exposure to Europe and US deals.”

    Baseline Ventures Co-Founder & Director Vishal Jaison called the tie-up a win-win: “Sports is now one of the most lucrative asset classes, delivering strong value appreciation. With Apex, Indian investors get a gateway to some of the biggest global sporting entities.”

    The deal marks a significant moment in the convergence of global capital and India’s sports industry — one where returns and fandom are racing side by side.

    (If you are an Anime fan and love Anime like Demon Slayer, Spy X Family, Hunter X Hunter, Tokyo Revengers, Dan Da Dan and Slime, Buy your favourite Anime merchandise on AnimeOriginals.com.)

  • Let’s Move +1 puts a fresh spin on Olympic Day with a call to move together

    Let’s Move +1 puts a fresh spin on Olympic Day with a call to move together

    MUMBAI: Pair up, power up Olympic Day is going two-for-one this year. This 23 June, the International Olympic Committee’s global movement campaign Let’s Move returns with a twist, Let’s Move +1, a call for Indians to embrace the power of paired play. In partnership with the Abhinav Bindra Foundation and the Reliance Foundation, the campaign encourages citizens to take a step, then bring a sibling, friend or colleague along for the next one.

    The idea? Moving together means staying motivated and the impact could be national. Over 50 sports venues across India will offer free paired sessions in cricket, padel, badminton, pickleball and more. No strings, just your +1.

    Backed by data from the World Health Organization that shows 50 per cent of Indian adults and a staggering 81 per cent of youth globally fail to meet activity recommendations, Let’s Move +1 taps into sport’s lesser-known benefit social wellbeing. Whether it’s a post-work pickleball match or skipping at school, shared movement builds community and fights loneliness, a growing global concern.

    Schools, too, are stepping in. Through the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) run in Chandigarh, Odisha and Assam more than 12 million children will take part in yoga, kho-kho, dance, arts, and Olympic-themed activities. The programme has already reached 10 million students, driving inclusivity and activity hand in hand.

    Olympic gold medallist and IOC Athletes’ Commission member Abhinav Bindra captured the spirit, “Let’s Move +1 reminds us that sport is not just about strength, it’s about support, connection, and joy.”

    The Reliance Foundation will host a special Olympic Day celebration for 1,450 schoolchildren, joined by archery Olympians Deepika Kumari and Atanu Das. “Sport has shown me the value of having someone in your corner,” said Kumari, a four-time Olympian. “Now, I want to be that person for someone else.”

    Launched in 2023, Let’s Move has already engaged 20 million people in India. With this year’s edition, the campaign doubles down on inclusivity and doubles the fun. Because sometimes, all it takes to get moving is someone to move with.

  • Indian Sports Honours 2024 to air on Star Sports & Disney+ Hotstar

    Indian Sports Honours 2024 to air on Star Sports & Disney+ Hotstar

    Mumbai: The Indian Sports Honours (ISH) returned for its fifth edition. This year’s ceremony will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network & Disney+ Hotstar on 18 November, 2024, at 5PM & 10:30 PM, bringing together India’s finest athletes and sports enthusiasts for a night of recognition and celebration.

    The ceremony will recognise some of the best sporting talents in the country through 10 Jury Honours, four Popular Choice Honours and Lifetime Achievement Honour. Included this year, will also be a new honour for Grassroot Initiatives of the Year, facilitating the organisations that make significant contributions to the development of sports at a grassroot level.

    The jury for this esteemed event featured a distinguished panel of sports icons, led by Abhinav Bindra, a member of the IOC and India’s first individual Olympic medal, as a chairperson. Alongside him was the legendary Indian athlete and President of the IOA, P.T. Usha, former world number one shooter, Anjali Bhagwat, and Disney+ Star head of sports Sanjog Gupta. The jury also included boxing olympic bronze medalist in 2008 Vijender Singh, wrestling bronze medalist in 2012, Yogeshwar Dutt, and former Indian hockey captain and player, Sardar Singh, as they all bring their combined expertise and insight into the selection process.

    Conceptualised by Cornerstone Sport, the Indian Sports Honours ceremony is a remarkable event that brings together top athletes, sports personalities, coaches, celebrated Bollywood icons and influencers, in recognition of the dedication and achievements that define Indian sports today. The event’s highlights include the main event, which showcases the sporting milestones achieved over the past year and moments honouring the inspirational journeys of the nation’s top sports talent.

    The event will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network & Disney+ Hotstar, who promise to bring a spectacular show encompassing Indian sports and the athletes who have dedicated their lives to it. The broadcaster will showcase several high-profile guests the event, including Sania Mirza, Abhinav Bindra, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Pandey, Sarabjot Singh, Lakshya Sen, Rani Rampal, Padhmashri Muralikant Petkar, Harmanpreet Singh and Avani Lekhara, amongst others. The main event will be broadcast on 18th November, on the Star Sports Network & Disney+Hotstar.

    Below are the list of honours the audiences can witness from the comfort of their home:
    Jury Honours: Sportsman of the Year (Individual), Sportswoman of the Year (Individual),
    Para-Athlete of the Year (Male), Para-Athlete of the Year (Female), Coach of the Year
    (Male), Coach of the Year (Female), Team of the Year (Male), Team of the Year (Female),
    Sportsman of the Year (Team), and Sportswoman of the Year (Team).

    Popular Choice Honours: Breakthrough Performance of the Year (Male), Breakthrough
    Performance of the Year (Female), Fan Club of the Year, and Club of the Year.

    Other honours: Lifetime Achievement Honour, Grassroot Initiatives of the Year Honour and Star Believe Honour

    Cornerstone Sport CEO Bunty Sajdeh expressed his excitement for the honours, stating, “The fifth edition of the Indian Sports Honours marks another milestone in our mission to celebrate the best of Indian sports. Each athlete has a special story, and it is important to celebrate that with full gusto. This year, we aim to go even further in honouring the achievements of our athletes, whose dedication, resilience, and passion inspire us all. With new categories and our collaboration with Star Sports, we’re thrilled to bring the spirit of Indian sports to viewers across the country.”

  • Baseline Ventures to represent Indian sporting icon, Abhinav Bindra

    Baseline Ventures to represent Indian sporting icon, Abhinav Bindra

    Mumbai: Baseline Ventures, a sports management company has announced the signing of Indian sporting icon and 2008 Olympic Gold Medallist, Abhinav Bindra. Baseline Ventures will be exclusively representing successful shooter Abhinav Bindra for all commercial engagements, including brand endorsements, sponsorships, licensing etc.

    Abhinav Bindra made history at the 2008 Beijing Olympics by becoming India’s first individual Gold medallist. His journey to this achievement is a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence, which also made him the first Indian to win a World Championship Gold in Air Rifle Shooting. Born in Dehradun, Bindra has won over 150 individual medals in a career that spanned over two decades, concluding with a commendable fourth-place finish at the Rio Olympics in 2016. His illustrious career has earned him the Arjuna Award, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, and the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award. He has also been conferred with the Blue Cross, the highest honour by the International Shooting Sport Federation, and holds the honorary title of Lt. Col. in the Territorial Army.

    Beyond his career in sports, Bindra is passionately involved in numerous initiatives through the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT). The foundation is dedicated to leveraging sports for social change, focusing on intervention, education, and social upliftment. ABFT’s STEAM scholarship program integrates Science, Engineering, Analytics, and Medicine into the training of grassroots athletes. The foundation’s efforts also include the Sport Science Interventions at ABTP Centers, the Athlete Mental Wellness Program, and the Physiotherapy and Sport Science Institute in Odisha. Additionally, the foundation’s ‘Sport4Her’ program empowers female athletes, and its Olympic Values Education Program, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee and the Governments of Odisha and Assam, has positively impacted millions of school children.

    Abhinav Bindra shared his thoughts on this occasion, “I am looking forward to working closely with Baseline Ventures to create valuable and meaningful collaborations. Their expertise in sports marketing is well known and I hope to partner with them to nurture mutual goals.”

    Baseline Ventures co-founder Vishal Jaison expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, “We are honoured and thrilled to represent Abhinav Bindra, a legend in Indian sports. His career and accomplishments are a testament to his hard work and determination. We look forward to creating meaningful and impactful opportunities that align with his vision and values for the long term.”

    With the signing of Abhinav Bindra, Baseline Ventures continues to strengthen its portfolio of top-tier sports athletes and further cement its status as a prominent player in the Indian sports landscape through its unwavering commitment of creating a share of voice for athletes across sports.

  • Sportskeeda gears up for special coverage of 2020 Tokyo Olympics

    Sportskeeda gears up for special coverage of 2020 Tokyo Olympics

    New Delhi: The countdown for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has begun, and fans couldn’t be more excited. The biggest sporting spectacle starts in less than 10 days while adhering to all the necessary Covid-19 protocols.

    Multi-sports platform Sportskeeda, which recently claimed the number two spot on the Comscore sports website rankings in India is also set to bring all the major action from the Olympics. The platform has been previously recognised for its coverage of Olympic Games Rio 2016 by then sports minister Ajay Maken.

    This year, Sportskeeda aims to bridge the gap between the viewers and the on-field action with the latest updates through several avenues like Medal Tally tracker, Live Blogs, Exclusive Videos, Expert Analysis, Feature Articles, SKLive video series, and much more, it announced on Thursday.

    The experts’ panel at Sportskeeda will consist of former Olympics athletes and sporting legends like Anju Bobby George, Srikanth Kidambi, Abhinav Bindra, Vijender Singh, and Somdev Devvarman, along with several seasoned journalists.

    Sportskeeda’s Olympics content head, Suromitro Basu said, “Olympic Sports content has always been a core part of Sportskeeda’s editorial coverage, and we plan to engage our users with engaging content throughout the Games. A pool of top experts, journalists, and athletes will regularly bring out all the relevant narratives covering the whole gamut of India’s contingent and Sportskeeda also offers customized and innovative brand integration/advertising options on its platform, which would enable brands to reach out to a large audience during the event.”

    People all over the world have had to brave several tough setbacks during the pandemic, and that includes Olympics athletes who have spent their whole lives training for this moment. India’s formidable contingent of 119 athletes, with the likes of PV Sindhu, Saurabh Chaudhary, and Neeraj Chopra will be cheered by billions back home as they strive to attain glory at the Games. “Sportskeeda wishes them all the very best for Tokyo, and the Sportskeeda team will be at the forefront, cheering for and celebrating their incredible feats,” he said.

    Founded in 2009, Sportskeeda claims to serve 200Mn+ readers annually and clocks 50Mn+ monthly users with its vibrant coverage of sports like Cricket, Football, Olympic Sports, Wrestling, Esports, and Gaming.

  • Watch India’s finest athletes recognized at Indian Sports Honours 2019 on Star Sports network

    Watch India’s finest athletes recognized at Indian Sports Honours 2019 on Star Sports network

    Mumbai: Over the last several years, Indian athletes have been showcasing their potential and talent on the global front by leading the way in many different sporting genres. Indian Sports Honours recognized and applauded for India’s finest athletes for their contribution and commitment to driving Indian sport to where it is today. The awards will be broadcasted on the Star Sports Network on October 4th& October 5th, 2019, giving fans an opportunity to witness a gala awards evening celebrating India’s finest athletes.

    As a nation, we need to come together to recognize the efforts of these athletes and the finest sportsmen & sportswomen our country has to offer and support #bluerising. Indian sportspersonshave been leaving their mark across the world stage by winning prestigious tournaments and bringing home a significant amount of hardware. Not only has this opened the eyes of the world to the inherent sporting potential in the country, it has also garnered a newfound respect and admiration for Indian athletes from across the globe. The winners of 11 categories were decided by ISH jury members comprising of sporting legends like Pullela Gopichand, Abhinav Bindra, Sardar Singh, Mahesh Bhupathi, PT Usha and Anjali Bhagwat.

    The grand awards gala was hosted and graced by the presence of living legends and stalwarts from the Indian entertainment and sports industry. Indian captain Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Sania Mirza, Satnam Singh, Sardar Singh and DipaKarmarkar represented the crème-de-la-crème of Indian sports while superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bose, Arjun Kapoor and others were present from the entertainment industry. The gala event saw the celebrities appreciating and motivating young athletes to be more confident and work towards better performances. The Indian Sports Honours represents and recognizes Indian sportsmen and women who have braved through hardship and challenges to make their dreams come true and their country proud. These illustrious athletes have found ways to beat the odds and battle the world’s best time and again, proving their mettle by becoming world champions.

    Fans can support the #bluerisingby tuning into Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2 and Hotstar to watch Indian Sports Honours 2019 on October 4-5, 2019.

    Indian Sports Honours 2019 (promo link)

    Sr. No

    Date

    Day

    Event

    Channel

    Timing

    1

    5-10-2019

    Saturday

    Red Carpet

    Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2 & Hotstar

    5PM & 10 PM

    2

    6-10-2019

    Sunday

    The Honours

    Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2 & Hotstar

    5PM & 10 PM
  • TV helped make cricket a religion, says Ganguly

    TV helped make cricket a religion, says Ganguly

    NEW DELHI: Television has played a key role in making cricket popular in the country and the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has successfully created heroes turning the game into a religion in India today.

    Stating this, the former captain of the Indian cricket team and Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly said other sports need to do the same.

    Addressing a session on ‘Business of Sports’ at the 89th Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Ganguly said administrators need to capitalise on the existing pool and should not hesitate to promote talented players. Winning a medal in Olympics was bigger than winning in cricket but still cricket got more mileage because of the sporting heroes and idols that the game managed to create, he said.

    In terms of financial sustainability, cricket is a huge example for other sports. BCCI has its own stadiums in almost every state which no other federation has managed to do, so far. Besides, he pointed out that the reason behind Indian Premier League’s success was the structured functionality of the organisation.

    Indian shooter, world & olympic champion Abhinav Bindra said federations and the government had ample funds but it reached the players just 3–4 months before the Olympics. This was hardly appropriate as the sportspersons had to train for four years to be able to make a mark at the international level. He emphasised the need to focus on the process of preparation and not be bogged down by the outcome.

    Indian athlete & summer paralympics 2016 silver winner Deepa Malik said the perception of the corporate world and the people towards para sports had undergone a sea change after India won the medals in 2016 Paralympics. But, this was just the beginning, she said.

    The actual challenge was in getting the funds at the right time and the quantum of money required was far more than other games for para athletes because of the additional challenges they faced, she said. While CSR funds were welcome, corporates needed to adopt athletes and monitor the performance closely, Malik added.

    Renowned sports journalist Boria Majumdar, who moderated the session, said countries such as Jamaica and Croatia whose sports infrastructure does not match even that of India were producing world-class, medal-winning athletes. Apart from IPL, he said, all the existing leagues like, ISL and badminton in India are struggling to survive financially.

  • TV helped make cricket a religion, says Ganguly

    TV helped make cricket a religion, says Ganguly

    NEW DELHI: Television has played a key role in making cricket popular in the country and the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has successfully created heroes turning the game into a religion in India today.

    Stating this, the former captain of the Indian cricket team and Cricket Association of Bengal president Sourav Ganguly said other sports need to do the same.

    Addressing a session on ‘Business of Sports’ at the 89th Annual General Meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Ganguly said administrators need to capitalise on the existing pool and should not hesitate to promote talented players. Winning a medal in Olympics was bigger than winning in cricket but still cricket got more mileage because of the sporting heroes and idols that the game managed to create, he said.

    In terms of financial sustainability, cricket is a huge example for other sports. BCCI has its own stadiums in almost every state which no other federation has managed to do, so far. Besides, he pointed out that the reason behind Indian Premier League’s success was the structured functionality of the organisation.

    Indian shooter, world & olympic champion Abhinav Bindra said federations and the government had ample funds but it reached the players just 3–4 months before the Olympics. This was hardly appropriate as the sportspersons had to train for four years to be able to make a mark at the international level. He emphasised the need to focus on the process of preparation and not be bogged down by the outcome.

    Indian athlete & summer paralympics 2016 silver winner Deepa Malik said the perception of the corporate world and the people towards para sports had undergone a sea change after India won the medals in 2016 Paralympics. But, this was just the beginning, she said.

    The actual challenge was in getting the funds at the right time and the quantum of money required was far more than other games for para athletes because of the additional challenges they faced, she said. While CSR funds were welcome, corporates needed to adopt athletes and monitor the performance closely, Malik added.

    Renowned sports journalist Boria Majumdar, who moderated the session, said countries such as Jamaica and Croatia whose sports infrastructure does not match even that of India were producing world-class, medal-winning athletes. Apart from IPL, he said, all the existing leagues like, ISL and badminton in India are struggling to survive financially.

  • Cashless villages ‘Mumkin Hai’ with new channel & Rs 5-cr campaign

    Cashless villages ‘Mumkin Hai’ with new channel & Rs 5-cr campaign

    MUMBAI: The government has launched ‘DigiShala’, a Doordarshan free DTH channel, to promote cashless transactions in India — the first step in online payment education through the electronic media. The channel will be brought through GSAT15 (DD Direct DTH), 93.5 degree East, Receive frequency: 11590 Mhz.

    The launch of the channel is part of the government’s ‘Digi Dhan Abhiyan’ under which www.cashlessindia.gov.in has been created to serve as a knowledge repository. The government plans to teach people how to safeguard their accounts from phishing and cyber crimes.

    Minister of electronics and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the television was one of the most effective and far-reaching mediums to create awareness. The ministry was rolling out a dedicated TV channel to inform citizens about digital payment ecosystem and its benefits he added.

    DigiShala aims to impart information, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, on the online payment ecosystem, its benefits, tools, and processes. The channel, via its user-friendly content, will also encourage viewers to use online payments. The expected viewership of the channel is more over two crore across India. It will be available free (without subscription fee) and hence could be availed by the poor.

    Prasad said that the channel would show programmes depicting demos of making digital payments using USSD, UPI, Aadhaar, e-wallets, cards, and various talk shows and panel discussions with experts, as well as information about products and services under the Digital India programme. Prasad said the goal was to help small traders and citizens to switch to digital payments.

    NITI Aayog has meantime launched an integrated campaign across print, television, radio and social media promoting digital payments to turn India into a cashless economy. The commission has been tasked to create a simplified yet convincing communication. With a primary budget of Rs 5 crore, the campaign will run for a period of six months in 19 regional languages. The call-to-action advertising spots with a local tone highlight routine activities such as shopping, hiring an auto, bill payments or buying groceries in which consumers can use online payments.

    On Facebook and Twitter, influencers such as Abhinav Bindra and Sakshi Malik are endorsing the digital payment campaign using #Digitalpayments and #IPayDigitally. The campaign has been created by The Moving Pixels Co and Thinkstr — Ahmedabad- and Gurgaon-based advertising agencies respectively.

    The TVC ‘Mumkin Hai’ (It’s possible) features a mix of consumers across occupations, age groups and economic levels as the voice-over explains various digital options. The ad ends with the prime minister’s speech urging people to become a part of cashless India.

  • Cashless villages ‘Mumkin Hai’ with new channel & Rs 5-cr campaign

    Cashless villages ‘Mumkin Hai’ with new channel & Rs 5-cr campaign

    MUMBAI: The government has launched ‘DigiShala’, a Doordarshan free DTH channel, to promote cashless transactions in India — the first step in online payment education through the electronic media. The channel will be brought through GSAT15 (DD Direct DTH), 93.5 degree East, Receive frequency: 11590 Mhz.

    The launch of the channel is part of the government’s ‘Digi Dhan Abhiyan’ under which www.cashlessindia.gov.in has been created to serve as a knowledge repository. The government plans to teach people how to safeguard their accounts from phishing and cyber crimes.

    Minister of electronics and information technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the television was one of the most effective and far-reaching mediums to create awareness. The ministry was rolling out a dedicated TV channel to inform citizens about digital payment ecosystem and its benefits he added.

    DigiShala aims to impart information, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, on the online payment ecosystem, its benefits, tools, and processes. The channel, via its user-friendly content, will also encourage viewers to use online payments. The expected viewership of the channel is more over two crore across India. It will be available free (without subscription fee) and hence could be availed by the poor.

    Prasad said that the channel would show programmes depicting demos of making digital payments using USSD, UPI, Aadhaar, e-wallets, cards, and various talk shows and panel discussions with experts, as well as information about products and services under the Digital India programme. Prasad said the goal was to help small traders and citizens to switch to digital payments.

    NITI Aayog has meantime launched an integrated campaign across print, television, radio and social media promoting digital payments to turn India into a cashless economy. The commission has been tasked to create a simplified yet convincing communication. With a primary budget of Rs 5 crore, the campaign will run for a period of six months in 19 regional languages. The call-to-action advertising spots with a local tone highlight routine activities such as shopping, hiring an auto, bill payments or buying groceries in which consumers can use online payments.

    On Facebook and Twitter, influencers such as Abhinav Bindra and Sakshi Malik are endorsing the digital payment campaign using #Digitalpayments and #IPayDigitally. The campaign has been created by The Moving Pixels Co and Thinkstr — Ahmedabad- and Gurgaon-based advertising agencies respectively.

    The TVC ‘Mumkin Hai’ (It’s possible) features a mix of consumers across occupations, age groups and economic levels as the voice-over explains various digital options. The ad ends with the prime minister’s speech urging people to become a part of cashless India.