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Tag: Decathlon

  • Bengaluru gets set to run the town with News18 Kannada’s Namma Run

    Bengaluru gets set to run the town with News18 Kannada’s Namma Run

    MUMBAI: Bengaluru, lace up the city’s about to swap traffic jams for running shoes. News18 Kannada has announced its debut Namma Run, South Edition, a first-of-its-kind city marathon that hits the streets on 28 September 2025, promising to be as much a celebration of community spirit as it is of fitness.

    The action begins at St. Joseph’s Ground (opposite UB City), with none other than Kannada cinema’s beloved Karunada Chakravarthy, Shiva Rajkumar, inaugurating the event. His presence brings a touch of star power and local pride, setting the stage for what aims to be a landmark fitness festival in the heart of Bengaluru.

    Far from being just a serious runner’s affair, Namma Run is designed as a carnival of inclusivity. Kids can sprint through 1 km and 2 km fun runs or take on a 3 km timed run, while families and grandparents can stroll the 3 km walkathon together. Adults can test their endurance in the 5 km and 10 km fun runs, or step up to the challenge with 5K and 10K timed runs that will bring out Bengaluru’s competitive spirit.

    In short, whether you’re a sneaker-clad school kid, a weekend jogger, or a full-blown marathon junkie, there’s a track waiting with your name on it.

    Bengaluru is just the start. This is the inaugural edition of Namma Run, which will soon set pace across South India with Hyderabad in November, Chennai in December, and Kochi in early 2026 already on the cards. Registration for the Bengaluru run is now open, inviting the city to make history with its first step.

    No marathon is complete without support, and Namma Run comes powered by an impressive lineup. Casagrand leads as presenting sponsor, with Amity University stepping in as co-presenting sponsor. Fybros Smart Electrical Creations and Reliance power the initiative, while Off Limits adds the sporting gear as merchandise partner. Keeping health in check is Narayana Health, while Decathlon takes the title of sports partner. Special support comes from Prominence, Repose Mattress, and Meenakshi TMT, with Twin Birds joining as associate partner.

    At its core, Namma Run is about more than kilometres, it’s about community. By combining inclusivity, competition, and culture, the event seeks to transform a Sunday into a festival of fitness. With music, energy, and the city’s unmistakable buzz, 28 September promises to be a day Bengaluru will remember as the start of something bigger.

    So, whether you’re chasing a personal best or just out for the joy of it, one thing’s certain: Bengaluru is about to run the town.

  • Decathlon rolls out Second Life Bazaar to push circular sports retail across 68 stores in India

    Decathlon rolls out Second Life Bazaar to push circular sports retail across 68 stores in India

    MUMBAI: Old gear is getting a new shot at glory. Decathlon India is rolling out its largest circular retail campaign to date with the launch of Second Life Bazaar, an 11-day sustainability activation starting 5 June 2025—coinciding with World Environment Day. The campaign spans 68 stores nationwide and aims to turn Indian sports retail into a regenerative game plan.

    At the heart of the campaign is a three-pronged strategy: buyback, resale, and DIY maintenance. Customers can trade in old Decathlon cycles and fitness gear for store vouchers, buy refurbished equipment at 30 per cent to 60 per cent off MRP, and take part in workshops to fix and maintain their sports goods—from skates and rackets to scooters and cycles.

    Decathlon’s new circular model is set to grow its circular product portfolio by 28 per cent to 30 per cent this year, with a longer-term goal of tripling circular turnover by 2027—projecting 200 per cent growth from 2024 levels. The company also expects to keep more than 300,000 sports products out of landfills during that period.

    “We have always believed that accessibility and sustainability must go hand in hand. As our customers evolve, so does our responsibility to offer high-quality, long-lasting products that not only reduce environmental impact but also address affordability. Sustainability is a year-round commitment for us, but the Second Life Bazaar holds special significance as we mark World Environment Day, a moment to reaffirm our dedication to responsible consumption”, said Decathlon India CEO Sankar Chatterjee.

    Backed by targeted advertising and communications, the campaign has gained traction in key metros and high-growth clusters including Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, Delhi NCR, Chennai, and across east India and Tamil Nadu.

    “Circularity is an environmental strategy as well as a transformative approach to how we perceive value. With the Second Life Bazaar, we are enabling our customers to actively participate in sustainability by extending product lifecycles, reducing waste, and creating tangible environmental benefits”, added Decathlon India leader, sustainable development Annie George.

    Globally, Decathlon has implemented similar campaigns in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, the UK, and Poland. The Indian edition aligns with Mission LiFE and positions Decathlon as a key player in pushing circularity within the country’s fast-evolving sports retail landscape.

     

  • boAt high-flyer Siya Wadhawan steers her way to Boldfit

    boAt high-flyer Siya Wadhawan steers her way to Boldfit

    MUMBAI: Siya Wadhawan has jumped ship from audio giant boAt to take the helm as head of brand marketing at sportswear challenger Boldfit. The savvy brand builder, who played a blinder in scaling boAt from a modest Rs 800 crore operation to a whopping Rs 3,000 plus crore behemoth during a four-year stint, will now attempt to work her magic on India’s fastest-growing sportswear and sports equipment brand.

    During her tenure at boAt, Wadhawan cut her teeth on product launches across the audio and smartwatch categories, masterminding partnerships with heavyweights like Netflix, cult.fit, and Dolby that helped propel the brand into the stratosphere.

    Before making waves at boAt, the MICAn spent nearly two years at Bajaj Electricals, where she spearheaded the digital transformation of the kitchen appliance category during the Covid pandemic—no mean feat for a legacy brand facing unprecedented market disruption.

    Her clever rebranding of Nirlep and category expansion efforts for both Bajaj and Morphy Richards in south India caught the eye of boAt’s top brass, who snapped her up in January 2021 as they embarked on their ambitious growth trajectory.

    Boldfit, which has been quietly building a name for itself in the fitness equipment and sportswear space, appears to be gearing up for a major push with this strategic hire. The brand is rumoured to be plotting an aggressive expansion that would put it on collision course with established players like Decathlon and homegrown challenger Cult.Sport.

    Wadhawan’s knack for “weaving stories, designing strategies and mining breakthrough ideas” will be put to the test as she attempts to navigate Boldfit through the crowded sportswear market, where brand positioning and community building are as crucial as the product itself.

    With a track record of turning digital-native brands into cultural phenomena, all eyes will be on whether Wadhawan can help Boldfit muscle its way to the top of India’s fitness brand podium.

  • Decathlon scores big for Women’s Day with ‘Play Your Own Way’ campaign

    Decathlon scores big for Women’s Day with ‘Play Your Own Way’ campaign

    MUMBAI: Who says an athlete must fit a mould? This International Women’s Day, Decathlon is shattering stereotypes with the third edition of its Play Your Own Way campaign, a bold call for women to embrace movement on their own terms, without rules, labels, or limitations.

    The campaign delivers a powerful message saying that sport doesn’t define athletes by gender, it defines them by grit, passion, and the will to push forward. Whether sprinting, swimming, stretching, or scaling new heights, every woman who moves is an athlete, plain and simple. The centrepiece of the initiative is an inspiring film showcasing women owning their space in sport like running, lifting, and leaping without constraints, proving that the real game-changer is mindset, not muscle.

    Decathlon India CEO Sankar Chatterjee stated, “‘Play Your Own Way’ isn’t just a campaign; it’s a movement. We want every woman to feel seen, heard, and empowered in sports and beyond. Alongside this, our internal initiative HeroesofDecathlon celebrates the incredible women who lead our teams and inspire us daily.”

    Decathlon’s commitment to inclusivity extends beyond the campaign. The brand recently earned the prestigious EDGE Move Certification for gender equality, making it the first sports brand to achieve this milestone. With fair pay practices, equitable opportunities, and a culture that champions diversity, Decathlon continues to set the gold standard for inclusivity.

    As Play Your Own Way rolls out across platforms, the message is clear this Women’s Day, it’s time to play, move, and break the rules that never should have existed in the first place!

  • Decathlon teams up with Myntra for wider sportswear reach

    Decathlon teams up with Myntra for wider sportswear reach

    Mumbai: Decathlon the sports products brand, announces a association with Myntra. The association will make Decathlon’s premium range of sportswear, footwear, accessories, and more accessible in tier 1, 2 & 3 cities, covering nearly 98 per cent of the Myntra’s serviceable pin codes, with a strong focus on growing sports markets like Northeast, India.  

    As specialised sportswear and athleisure continue to grow in demand, Myntra’s customer first approach and widespread reach, will power Decathlon’s mission of providing an enhanced and integrated shopping journey that seamlessly blends physical and online shopping experiences.

    From sports apparel such as t-shirts, shorts, jackets, and leggings to sports shoes, backpacks, and many more sports essentials covering more than 40 sports like hiking, trekking, fitness, training, swimming, surfing, badminton, tennis, football, basketball, running among others, the availability of Decathlon’s products on Myntra will ensure customers from metros to the remotest corners of India have high-quality sports essentials at their fingertips.

    “We are thrilled to announce our strategic association with Myntra as this a significant step in enhancing our e-commerce presence and also represents our efforts to reach a much larger audience across India,” said Decathlon India CEO Sankar Chatterjee. “Myntra’s wide network presence and huge base of premium customers will enable us to showcase our diverse range of sports and fitness products to millions of shoppers, allowing us to inspire more individuals to embrace an active lifestyle and stay true to our purpose of moving people through the wonders of sports in India.”

    Further commenting on this announcement, Myntra chief business officer Sharon Pais said “Our latest association with Decathlon will synergise to make a wide array of sports products more accessible to those seeking to nurture their passion for fitness as well as specialised sports. With a strong focus on emerging regions that earlier did not have such access for their sport of interest , this collaboration underscores our commitment to supporting brands on a mission propelling active lifestyle and fitness adoption in the country.”

    As Decathlon looks to provide greater access to sports, Myntra’s emphasis on a seamless shopping experience, coupled with its strong footprint in fashion and lifestyle, makes it the ideal platform for Decathlon’s entry into this new digital frontier. Decathlon’s alignment with Myntra will not only increase the brand’s visibility but also provide a quicker, more reliable service to customers across India.

    To build excitement around this launch, Decathlon’s Myntra store will enjoy prime visibility on the app throughout the launch period. Additionally, Decathlon will drive engagement through targeted social media campaigns across social media channels to reach a wider audience.

  • Decathlon/Kipsta unveils new official match balls for UEFA Europa and conference leagues

    Decathlon/Kipsta unveils new official match balls for UEFA Europa and conference leagues

    Mumbai: KIPSTA teams up with UEFA and becomes its official match ball supplier for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League. This partnership will start with the 2024 2025 season and run until the end of the 2026 2027 season.

    Answering the most technical standards required to play football at the highest level and being awarded with the FIFA quality pro label, the KIPSTA ball has been chosen for the comfort of control given to the player, its great landing zone precision, as well as its outstanding grip, which facilitates the use of the ball in all weather conditions. The thermobonding technology used for its conception also guarantees better durability of the ball, ensuring its premium quality from the beginning to the end of the match.

    Decathlonglobal chief sports and products officer Fabien Brosse said, “Decathlon is delighted to embark on this wonderful partnership with UEFA as the official match ball supplier of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League. Our ball being selected, supports and confirms our continuous efforts to produce quality and highly technical products, which have the capacity to be used at the highest level of the sporting game.”

    UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein added, “We look forward to seeing the new Kipsta UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League balls in action across Europe as a new, exciting season of UEFA’s men’s club competitions kicks off. In addition, we are delighted to see the ambitious plans that have been put in place by Decathlonto to promote and sell the balls through their extensive retail and online networks.”

    While many people have never played with a professional ball, KIPSTA and UEFA are uniting to change this dynamic. By teaming up, they are proving that a ball at an accessible price can be of great quality and meet the highest professional standards.

    This quality level has been achieved by KIPSTA via a fruitful collaboration with multiple players of different levels, resulting in having the most tested ball in the world. The tests of the ball’s prototypes were also conducted with more than 10 professional football teams in France.

    However, the quality of the ball doesn’t compromise its accessibility, following KIPSTA’s business model: to reach more footballers around the world with excellent and sustainable products that meet professional standards and are accessible to everyone.

    The ball is now available online and in all Decathlon stores.

    Decathlon federated sports director Frédéric Boistard added, “Football is a sport that completely embodies Decathlon’s Ready-To-Play motto. It can be played anywhere, by anyone, as long as you have a group of people and a ball. KIPSTA aims at providing a crucial element to each match, therefore enhancing every player’s experience on a field, whether it is for professional ones during a UEFA match, or in a school playground for young beginners.

  • Decathlon launches Decathlon Pulse

    Decathlon launches Decathlon Pulse

    Mumbai: Decathlon is launching Decathlon Pulse, a fully-owned subsidiary dedicated to building new long-term growth engines, accelerating Decathlon’s ambition to move people through the wonders of sport.

    In a sports and wellness market offering major growth opportunities, Decathlon is determined to explore new ways to expand its footprint for the benefit of people, society at large and the planet.

    An independent entity within the group, Decathlon Pulse will invest in innovative people and businesses that share its values and commitment. In line with Decathlon’s global strategy, Decathlon Pulse will fully complement the group’s core activities by diversifying its ability to drive impact and lead the change.

    Three levers of action to build additional long-term growth

    Decathlon Pulse will focus on three main levers:

    ●   Build and scale ideas and concepts with strong potential to create standalone new businesses that will complement Decathlon’s core activities and strengthen the group’s value proposition.  

    ●  Invest as a shareholder in highly innovative companies that could change the sport ecosystem and accelerate the adoption of new sustainable business models.

    ●  Acquire strong and forward-looking sports brands and sporting goods distributors that are changing the game by their revolutionising ideas and trailblazing business models.

    Driving innovation and growth through strategic partnerships

    For many years, Decathlon has been investing in companies with the same intention: to have an impact on all stages of the sports ecosystem’s value chain.

    Since 2018, Decathlon has invested close to 400 million euros in capitalistic partnerships, from investments in startups and small companies to the acquisition of majority stakes in premium pure players like AllTricks and Bergfreunde.

    Decathlon Pulse, through its clear roadmap, independent management and dedicated teams, will accelerate this strategic movement, having the capability, means and agility to look beyond today’s changes and focus on long-term strategic growth.

    Franck Vigo is appointed CEO of Decathlon Pulse. Decathlon’s Global CEO Barbara Martin Coppola will serve as its chairwoman, ensuring the complementarity with Decathlon’s core activities.

    Decathlon Global CEO and Decathlon Pulse chairwoman Barbara Martin Coppola: “We are thrilled to launch  Decathlon Pulse. This marks a significant milestone in our journey to better serving the sporting needs of the customers of tomorrow. Decathlon Pulse is a separate entity, but will be complementary to the Decathlon as they work towards the same purpose to move people through the wonders of sport. Decathlon Pulse will be dedicated to finding new growth levers and game-changing innovations in the sports market. I can’t wait to see what the team achieves in the future.”

    Decathlon Pulse CEO Franck Vigo: “Today marks an exciting new journey for us as we launch Decathlon PULSE, driven by a passion for sport and a singular vision to continuously enhance our impact on people’s lives. We believe the best way to do so is to build long-term relationships with game-changing companies and people, in which we invest while maintaining their full autonomy to create a better sports industry.”

  • DECATHLON celebrates International Yoga Day with fourth edition of “Take A Breath” initiative

    DECATHLON celebrates International Yoga Day with fourth edition of “Take A Breath” initiative

    Mumbai: DECATHLON is excited to announce the launch of the fourth edition of its “Take A Breath” initiative in celebration of International Yoga Day. With a mission to inspire and move people through the wonders of sports, this initiative aims to promote the practice of yoga to take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life and cater to the unique needs of Indian yoga practitioners through its products and equipment.

    According to reports, close to 15 crore individuals engage in yoga, However, over 67 per cent of Indian yoga enthusiasts choose to practise at home. To enable these practitioners and inspire individuals to adopt yoga as a daily practice, enriching their lives through its transformative benefits, DECATHLON is committed to developing products and equipment tailored for the Indian market.

    As a part of this commitment, DECATHLON is excited to unveil its new line of yoga wear geared towards women, including the Kurti Tshirt and Dhoti Yoga Bottoms, in an effort to make practising yoga more comfortable. These products are meticulously designed to blend traditional aesthetics with modern functionality. The Kurti Panoply offers a stylish yet modest option, allowing ease of movement and breathability, while the Dhoti Yoga Bottoms deliver unparalleled comfort with their relaxed fit and flexible fabric. By incorporating these thoughtfully crafted pieces into their yoga wear collection, DECATHLON aims to become the product of choice for Indian women who look to enhance their yoga experience or embrace an active lifestyle.

    “At DECATHLON, we uphold the vision of moving people through the wonder of sports. To bring that spirit to people, we focus on continuously delivering innovative and quality products and equipment that allows them to kick start their journey or continue it. Our expanding and comprehensive range of yoga products including apparel, accessories, and mats is a testament to this spirit as DECATHLON becomes the one-stop solution for all yoga needs,’’ said DECATHLON India yoga leader Rojith John.

    To further encourage and introduce people to the wonders of yoga, on the International Yoga Day, DECATHLON is set to host over 300 yoga sessions across more than 100 stores nationwide. Following the success of the third edition of the “Take A Breath” initiative in 2023, which witnessed participation from over 21,000 people across India, DECATHLON aims to move over 25,000 people this year.

  • Decathlon’s next frontier

    Decathlon’s next frontier

    Mumbai: Decathlon, a multi-specialist sports brand, is revealing its new purpose, to “Move People Through the Wonders of Sport,” and the strategy behind this bold new ambition to bring innovative and sustainable sport to everyone. As part of this evolution, Decathlon is unveiling its new brand, which includes a dynamic and forward-looking identity and the new “orbit” logo.

    Since the beginning of its journey in 1976, Decathlon has always believed in sports’ vital role in helping societies to be healthier and happier. And today, people need sport more than ever.

    At the beginning of this transformation journey, Decathlon wrote its “North Star”, a long-term ambition to accelerate its mission for the good of societies and the planet. Guided by the North Star, a new purpose was born: Move People Through the Wonders of Sport.

    Anchored to this purpose, Decathlon is adopting an ambitious global strategy, which encompasses an enhanced customer experience, a strong commitment to sustainability and an overall modernisation of the company. Core to the customer experience is an evolved brand introduced today.

    Barbara Martin-Coppola, Decathlon’s Global Chief Executive Officer: “Today marks a very special moment in both the history and future of Decathlon. Now more than ever, the world needs sport. It has a unifying power and can improve both physical and mental health. At Decathlon, we want to have a greater positive impact on humans, society and the planet by Moving People Through the Wonders of Sport. I am proud to be working towards the North Star – our guiding light and ambition – with our teammates. It’s been incredible to see our diverse community come together to celebrate what makes us special: enabling everyone to practise sport on their own terms. I am confident that our ambitious strategy, evolving our way of doing business, will ensure Decathlon leads the sector as a unique and trusted sports brand.”

    A New Brand Identity and Portfolio

    Decathlon’s striking new brand identity reflects the brand’s ambition while celebrating its past. Along with a dynamic blue, it now welcomes a new brand icon – “the Orbit” – expressing movement, the ambition to reach new heights, and circularity, at the heart of Decathlon’s sustainable business model.

    Decathlon is unleashing the full potential of the brand to bring sport to everyone through a new and simplified brand portfolio with 9 category specialists: Quechua (mountain), Tribord (water and wind), Rockrider (outdoor cycling), Domyos (fitness), Kuikma (racket), Kipsta (team sports), Caperlan (wildlife), Btwin (urban gliding and mobility) and Inesis (target), and 4 expert brands: Van Rysel, Simond, Kiprun and Solognac.

    A Business Model Based on Sustainability

    All the good that sports can do for people’s lives and societies cannot be at the expense of the planet.

    Decathlon aims to be a driving force and has committed to becoming Net Zero by 2050.

    DECATHLON’s decarbonization targets are (scopes 1, 2 & 3):

      . 20 per cent reduction in absolute CO2 emissions in 2026.

     .  42 per cent reduction in absolute CO2 emissions in 2030 and net zero by 2050.

    Strongly engaged in reaching its ambition, Decathlon has, for the second year in a row in 2023, decoupled its growth and its CO2 emissions.

    Decathlon is working hand in hand with suppliers and partners to unlock sustainability all across the supply chain. With this collaborative approach, Decathlon has been working with suppliers to decarbonise processes and pave the way for new business models based on circularity and increased product life cycles.

    This also means that across the product range, Decathlon is increasing product lifespans and enabling customers to reuse, repair and recycle their products.

    A New Customer Experience Shaped by a Digital-First Mindset

    Decathlon is harnessing the power of digital with a global revamp of the e-commerce website to provide a seamless shopping experience for customers anytime, anywhere.

    Decathlon’s digital supply chain has been rethought with best-in-class tools and AI algorithms to enable accurate forecasting, assortment planning and stock parameters. This has already led to significant reductions in stock levels and many improvements, including decreasing transportation costs, carbon footprint and delivery time.

    Decathlon is also breaking ground with new ways to embark its customers on an immersive experience, including its 3D Shopping App on Apple Vision Pro in the U.S.

    In the coming months, more than 1,700 stores around the world will be refurbished with a whole new setup, offering customers intuitive navigation, increased product visibility, engaging physical and digital displays, and an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.

    Innovation at the Heart of a Multi-Specialist Sports Brand

    Every day, over 850 engineers and 400 designers at Decathlon relentlessly invent, create, design, and try and test new materials and products. The result is a set of groundbreaking sporting solutions, underpinned by 900 patents.

    Decathlon’s organisation is shaped by this culture and includes expert teams such as Booster Innovation – supporting local teams, Sports Lab – dedicated to the study of sports and dynamics of the human body, AddLab- a 3D prototyping centre and Advanced Design – designing the sports and experiences of the future.

    Looking to the Future as One

    Decathlon aims to become one of the most Inclusive organisations in the world.

    In 2023, Decathlon’s Executive team reached parity for the first time in its history, and the company has made unprecedented commitments for 2026, including measuring representation, inclusion and belonging, acting on it, and setting global standards and best-in-class performance in DEI.

    Decathlon is building and strengthening communities such as women in leadership and associated programmes, forging external partnerships with DEI experts. In 2023, Decathlon received several industry recognitions including tenth place in Forbes’ Retail & Wholesale category for the world’s “Best employer for Women”.

  • UEFA chooses Decathlon’s Kipsta for the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa conference league

    UEFA chooses Decathlon’s Kipsta for the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa conference league

    Mumbai: KIPSTA continues its rise in professional football. From the 2024-2025 season onwards and for a period of three years until the end of the 2026-2027 season), Decathlon will supply official match balls for the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Europa Conference League. From Portugal to Azerbaijan, from the Faroe Islands to Türkiye, all matches in these competitions will be played using Official Match balls designed and produced by Decathlon’s sub-label Kipsta.

    Kipsta, whose global headquarters are situated at the Kipstadium in Tourcoing, France, has been producing, for several years, official match balls that meet the highest technical requirements of the Ligue one Uber Eats and Ligue 2 BKT in France, as well as the Jupiler Pro League in Belgium.  

    Thanks to the thermo-bonding of its match ball panels (seamless ball), Kipsta official match balls offer superior sphericity and durability. It also provides a heightened playing sensation thanks to the textured microfiber foam component and debossing. Kipsta official match balls are characterised by their highly stable flight trajectory. Designed, tested and created in France, Kipsta official match balls are FIFA Quality Pro certified.

    Decathlon chief products and sports officer Fabien Brosse said: “UEFA’s decision recognises KIPSTA’s expertise and ability to offer a high-level technical product that meets the highest standards. It also reinforces the commitment of the KIPSTA teams to the practice of football, whether amateur or professional, throughout the world.”

    UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein said: “We are thrilled to announce KIPSTA as the official match ball supplier for the first time as we join forces with a brand that shares our passion for innovation, quality and the love of the game. KIPSTA’s experience in providing top-quality balls and commitment to the sport will be tremendous assets as the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League enter into new eras”