Tag: Prasad Mangipudi

  • Rafael Nadal’s UAX School and Sportzprix serve up digital sports marketing masterclass

    Rafael Nadal’s UAX School and Sportzprix serve up digital sports marketing masterclass

    NEW DELHI: India’s booming sports economy is about to get a masterstroke of a makeover. Spanish tennis titan Rafael Nadal’s UAX Rafa Nadal University School in Madrid has teamed up with homegrown grassroots sports platform Sportzprix to launch a power-packed online master’s in digital sports marketing — tailor-made for Indian students, marketers and sportpreneurs.

    This slick nine-month course blends Nadal’s high-performance mindset with UAX’s academic muscle, landing right in the sweet spot of India’s Rs-crore sports marketing boom. Set to launch in October 2025, the course aims to plug the yawning skills gap in fan engagement, sponsorships, digital influence and league building. Think Champions League meets Indian Super League — in the classroom.

    There’s a desi twist too. The curriculum comes with an India-specific module co-crafted by Sportzprix, covering everything from IPL-style formats and homegrown brand tie-ups to cricket’s influencer economy. Open to graduates, athletes and professionals, the course also includes an optional on-ground immersion at the UAX Rafa Nadal campus in Madrid — for those who fancy some Spanish sun and sports business savvy.

    “With India bidding for global events like Olympics, CWG and the domestic leagues becoming bigger and more professional India is poised for a sports revolution, and marketing will play a central role in shaping its future. Our partnership with UAX Rafa Nadal University School brings world-class sports education to Indian students and professionals at the click of a button,” said Sportsprix co-founder & CEO  Prasad Mangipudi.

    The ace himself weighed in too. Rafael Nadal, founder, mentor and tennis legend, said: “I’ve always believed in the powerful synergy between education and sport. Sport shapes individuals, but without academic grounding, its impact is incomplete. The UAX Rafa Nadal University School excites me because it embodies this alliance — blending education, specialization, and industry relevance. In a rapidly evolving world, we aim to stay ahead by anticipating market needs, and with the exceptional team we have, I’m confident we’ll deliver exactly what the industry demands.”

    “The UAX Rafa Nadal School of Sport is designed to shape the future leaders of the sports industry, combining UAX’s academic experience with the sport values that have defined Rafa Nadal’s career: effort, humility, discipline, and perseverance. We focus on training the next generation of professionals in the multi-sports industry and sport technology, combining academic excellence with the values and experience of Rafa Nadal and his team”,  pointed out UAX Rafa Nadal University School director Miguel Palencia Yllera.

    Backed by a bullish Google–Deloitte report that pegs India’s sports industry to hit $130 billion by 2030, the timing couldn’t be sharper. With league culture thriving, digital viewership spiking, and sports start-ups multiplying, this course arrives as the perfect training ground for India’s next-gen sports marketers.
    Applications are now open. Details are live on www.sportzprix.com/sportsed/UAX and the official UAX Rafa Nadal University School website.

    Game on, India.

  • Game set match for sports ed as Nadal school enters India with Sportzprix

    Game set match for sports ed as Nadal school enters India with Sportzprix

    MUMBAI: In a winning shot for India’s sports industry, Rafael Nadal’s school is serving up more than just aces, it’s bringing academic firepower to the field. Sportzprix, India’s grassroots sports education platform, has teamed up with the UAX Rafa Nadal University School, Madrid, to launch a first-of-its-kind Master’s in Digital Sports Marketing programme tailor-made for Indian students and professionals. The nine-month online course rolling out in October 2025 fuses Nadal’s championship mindset with UAX’s academic muscle to upskill future leaders of India’s booming sports economy.

    Designed for graduates, athletes, and marketing professionals, the course dives into fan engagement, sponsorship strategy, influencer marketing, and more all recontextualised for India’s dynamic leagues and fandoms. A dedicated India module, co-created with Sportzprix, offers hyperlocal relevance while retaining global rigour.

    “It’s not just education, it’s a sporting transformation,” said Prasad Mangipudi, CEO and Co-founder of Sportzprix. “India is bidding for mega events like the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, and our leagues are scaling up. This programme ensures our talent pool grows just as fast.”

    For those craving a more global view, an optional immersion at the UAX Rafa Nadal campus in Madrid adds cross-continental experience to the mix. Meanwhile, online delivery ensures learners across India can access this training without leaving their home turf.

    Nadal, mentor of the programme, called the school a blend of education, specialisation, and sport values, pointing to its grounding in discipline, humility, and perseverance. “In a rapidly evolving world, we must anticipate market needs. That’s what this school is built to do.”

    The course arrives at a perfect moment. According to a Google–Deloitte report, India’s sports industry is on track to hit 130 billion dollars by 2030, driven by digital consumption, league proliferation, and sports entrepreneurship. Yet, the skills gap in sports marketing and management remains wide. This course aims to be the bridge.

    Miguel Palencia Yllera, Director at UAX Rafa Nadal University School, said, “We’re shaping future professionals in sport tech and management those who understand both the business and the values of the game.”

    So, if you’re ready to score big in sports business, this could be your grand slam moment.

  • Sixth season of Premier Badminton League to kick-start from 17 December

    Sixth season of Premier Badminton League to kick-start from 17 December

    Mumbai: Premier Badminton League (PBL) is set for a comeback with the sixth season, scheduled from 17 December – 14 January. PBL is organised by SportzLive—the official licence holder of the league under the aegis of the Badminton Association of India (BAI).

    The upcoming edition of the league will once again bring badminton action to the fans after a break of two years owing to the pandemic.

    “We are thrilled with the return of PBL. It’s a crucial part of Indian badminton and has contributed to the growth of the sport in the country. It has provided a much-needed platform for our young players to showcase their talent on such a huge global platform, and its return is much awaited by the entire badminton fraternity,” said Badminton Association of India president Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma.

    “Indian shuttlers have hugely benefitted from PBL while playing alongside the world’s greatest players. The budding players have grown in confidence and experiences while interacting and I firmly believe the league will give a strong platform to BAI to create a lot more bench strength in the coming times,” said BAI secretary Sanjay Mishra.

    The league has witnessed the participation of Indian stars Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth, as well as the Olympic champion Carolina Marin, Viktor Axelsen, Tai Tzu-Ying and Lee Chong Wei, among others.

    “It was a tough period for all of us. We are fortunate enough to have been loved by the people, and their love makes this league one of the biggest events in the badminton world. Since the start of the league to today’s date, the level of the game has gone up immensely in India. We are committed to developing badminton in India and, thus, are delighted to announce the return of the Premier Badminton League. We promise the same level of breathtaking action for the fans through this season,” said SportzLive MD Prasad Mangipudi.