Tag: Pullela Gopichand

Trivandrum set for UST Marathon with Milind Soman

MUMBAI: Ready, set, go! Trivandrum is set to sprint into the record books. The Kerala capital will host its largest-ever marathon on 12 October 2025 with the second edition of the UST Trivandrum Marathon. Organised by tech giant UST in collaboration with NEB Sports, the event promises four action-packed categories: full marathon, half marathon, 10,000 run and 5,000 run, starting from the UST Thiruvananthapuram campus.

Adding star power to the race, actor, model, fitness icon and film producer Milind Soman will serve as the brand ambassador, joined by sports legends including former Indian badminton star Pullela Gopichand, athlete Reeth Abraham, and badminton player U Vimal Kumar.

With over 10,000 participants expected, the total prize pool tops Rs 22 lakh, making it Kerala’s most ambitious marathon yet. Registrations are open online at bit.ly/3ZnARUv and the official website trivandrummarathon.com.

UST, president, Alexander Varghese said “This marathon is our way of promoting a healthy society and raising awareness of physical and mental well-being. Marathons are a powerful tool for inspiring communities, and we are proud to host this annual event in Trivandrum.”

NEB Sports, cmd, Nagaraj Adiga added, “We are thrilled to host over 10,000 runners and welcome Milind Soman as our brand ambassador, adding extra charm to the event. Training runs earlier this year saw overwhelming participation, setting the stage for an unforgettable marathon.”

From fitness enthusiasts to seasoned athletes, the UST Trivandrum Marathon 2025 promises to blend endurance, excitement and community spirit in the heart of Kerala.

September 24, 2025
TV9 rallies India Inc with Gopichand for smashing badminton showdown

MUMBAI: Move over boardroom battles, it’s time to settle scores on the badminton court. TV9 Network has announced the launch of the News9 Corporate Badminton Championship, in partnership with the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, bringing a new spin to corporate fitness and team spirit.

After scoring big with its Corporate Football Cup, TV9 is now rallying professionals to pick up their rackets. The championship promises more than just a shuttle showdown, it’s a celebration of work-life balance, camaraderie, and competitive flair.

TV9 Network MD & CEO Barun Das said, “We believe in sporting events that go beyond competition. They inspire fitness, teamwork and a sense of community. The Corporate Badminton Championship is another step in building a larger ecosystem of corporate sport.”

With Hyderabad’s legendary sporting legacy as its backdrop, the championship finds a fitting home at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy, a temple of talent that has produced Olympic stars like PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal.

TV9 Network-South, chief operating officer, and News9 director corporate badminton championship Vikram K said, “Hyderabad has long been celebrated as a hub for well-established industries like IT, Pharma, Biotech, and Startups. But beyond being a business powerhouse, it has also emerged as a cradle of sporting excellence producing icons like Pullela Gopichand, Sania Mirza, VVS Laxman, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Satwik Sairaj, and Chirag Shetty and more. We are proud to launch the first season of the News9 Corporate Badminton Championship in this city of champions. With the legacy of Padma Bhushan Pullela Gopichand as a backdrop, this tournament is a salute to both passion and performance. It offers working professionals a well-deserved break from the daily hustle, a chance to compete, connect, and celebrate their love for sport. At TV9, we believe in building communities that thrive not just at work, but also in well-being and togetherness.”

India National Badminton Team chief national coach Pullela Gopichand said, “Badminton has given me everything and I believe it has something to offer everyone. With the News9 Corporate Badminton Championship, we’re bringing that passion, love of the game to the corporate world. Join us and be a part of this exciting movement!”

The format includes Men’s and Open categories, with singles and doubles matches. Open Category teams must include at least one female player, encouraging inclusive participation.

But this isn’t just about bragging rights. Winners stand to bag cash prizes of up to Rs 6,00,000, along with exclusive two-day coaching sessions at the prestigious Gopichand Academy. They’ll also receive invites to elite badminton tournaments across India making this a game-changing opportunity for rising talent.

The tournament is open to companies and LLPs that have been operational for at least two years with a minimum of ten employees. It’s a rare opportunity for professionals to swap presentations for precision smashes and play under the guidance of the very coach who shaped India’s badminton dreams.

As the courts light up and teams take their positions, TV9’s latest initiative proves that the real corporate champions might just be found in sports shoes, not suits. Let the rallies begin!

April 9, 2025
ABP Network’s Southern Rising Summit 2024 to highlight South India’s future role

Mumbai: ABP Network is set to host the second edition of the Southern Rising Summit 2024, spotlighting South India’s pivotal role in shaping the nation’s future. Scheduled for 25 October in Hyderabad, this influential event will bring together leaders from politics, culture, and industry to celebrate the region’s growth and explore its impact on India’s economic and cultural landscape.

Themed ‘Coming of Age: Identity, Inspiration, Impact’, this year’s summit will feature discussions on crucial topics such as healthcare, education, cultural preservation, and South India’s evolving identity. The summit will highlight South India’s position as a key driver in India’s growth narrative.

The summit will feature an impressive lineup of speakers, including Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy and union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu. Notable personalities such as Pullela Gopichand, Chidambaram S. Poduval, Gautami Tadimalla, Sai Durgha Tej, and Raashii Khanna will share their insights on the region’s vibrant identity.

The event will also include political discourse led by figures like BJP MP candidate Kompella Madhavi Latha, Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed, and senior Congress leader Madhu Goud Yashki. Cultural icons like classical singer Bindu Subramaniam, singer Shilpa Rao, and classical dancer Yamini Reddy will showcase the region’s rich heritage. Renowned historian Vikram Sampath will delve into South India’s historical significance, while Rapido co-founder Aravind Sanka will discuss innovative governance policies.

October 23, 2024
RCB announces flagship sports conference in partnership with leaders in Sport

Mumbai: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with its innovation arm—RCB Innovation Lab, has partnered with Leaders in Sport, the premier global sports events and media organisation, to bring the first-ever Leaders Meet to India, scheduled in Bengaluru on 29 and 30 November.

RCB Innovation Lab is a groundbreaking intersection between sports and business, that aims to generate insights, ideas, methodologies, and products in order to shape the future of sports. Leaders Meet: India aligns seamlessly with RCB Innovation Lab’s mission to further grow sports ecosystem.

The first-of-its-kind summit is set to host a stellar line-up of global sporting leaders who will collectively delve into the convergence of sports, business, technology, and social impact. They will address critical themes and share insights on multi-faceted topics that are not only shaping the sports industry but are also poised to drive the expansion of India’s future sports market.

The event will mark a historic occasion and witness insightful discussions in the presence of prominent figures from the sports world such as BCCI honorary secretary Jay Shah, Will Brass (chief commercial officer of the English Premier League), Ellie Norman (chief communications officer of Manchester United), and Charlotte Burr (director of strategy, corporate development & digital, FIFA). Notably, the summit will also feature the Indian badminton legend Pullela Gopichand, Brendon McCullum (former New Zealand skipper and current head coach of England’s Test team), and Olympic Gold Medal winner and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, Italian International Football icon & World Cup winner 2006 Alessandro Del Piero, G20 Sherpa – India & Ex – CEO of Niti Aayog, Government of India Amitabh Kant among many other notable dignitaries.

Commenting on RCB Innovation Lab bringing leaders meet to India for the first time, Royal Challengers Bangalore vice president & head Rajesh V Menon said, “Growth requires a catalyst; we want to create the perfect conditions for sport and business to thrive – sowing seeds of change through new connections, relationships, opportunities, ideas, and perspectives. We want to make it happen faster by creating optimal conditions – bringing together the very best in the sports industry, both on and off the field. We want to accelerate the process by connecting members of the business & sporting community to the best conversations, the best connections, the best insights, the best solutions, and the best opportunities. I am confident that this confluence of industry stalwarts will help bring out valuable insights and build & engage stakeholders contributing to India in the journey of creating more participants in sports than just spectators”.”

Leaders in Sport has been in existence for 15 years and has served as a catalyst for bringing together the most prominent figures and groundbreaking ideas in the world of sports. With past editions hosted in key cities like New York, Abu Dhabi, London, Los Angeles, Beijing, and Shanghai, Leaders in Sport has been instrumental in facilitating dialogues and propelling the sports industry towards progress. It continues to lead the way in providing the latest sports business intelligence and delivering exclusive perspectives from global industry leaders at the forefront.

Sport managing director and leader Laura McQueen said “We stand on the verge of an exciting new chapter in the world of sports. Leaders Meet is not just an event; it’s a convergence of some of the world’s most influential leaders and a platform to usher in a new era for the sports industry in India and Southeast Asia. At the summit, we will witness catalytic discussions, innovative ideas, and a global perspective on how to shape the future of sports.

We are thrilled to partner with RCB to host this event in India for the first time, and it serves as a testament to our shared vision of unlocking India’s potential as a thriving hub for sports and all verticals in sports, related to business, technology, and social impact. The summit promises to bridge the gap between opportunity and execution, propelling India to the forefront of the global sports landscape.”

Leaders Meet: India will also see the participation of distinguished government administrators including Amitabh Kant, who served as the G20 Sherpa and previously held the role of CEO at Niti Aayog, and R Vineel Krishna, an IAS officer and Special Secretary to Odisha CM & Secretary of Sports and Youth Services in the Odisha Government. These esteemed individuals will engage in discussions and brainstorming sessions covering innovations in sports technology, business, performance, and social impact during the two-day conference.

Below is the detailed list of speakers with their theme of the talk:

1. Jay Shah: Honorary secretary, BCCI; president, ACC; Chair F&CA Committee, ICC

Topic: How the BCCI built the IPL, launched the WPL and what it tells us about the future of cricket and the trajectory of Indian sport

2. Amitabh Kant: G20 Sherpa – India & ex-CEO of Niti Aayog, Government of India

Topic: The Indian growth story, the socio-economic opportunities, and the role for sport

3. Alessandro Del Piero: Italian International Football icon & World Cup winner 2006

Excerpts of one of the most picture-perfect careers, multiple series A league titles, World Cup winner, champions league winner. Reflections of an iconic career and the current changing landscape of football and with emerging markets what is the future trend of football, will Europe still be the premier club football destination in the near future.

4. Dr. R. Vineel Krishna, IAS: Special Secretary to Odisha CM & Secretary – Sports and Youth Services, Odisha Government
Topic: How states can drive sports promotion and development – the Odisha model and the future of public-private partnerships

5. Brendon McCullum: Head Coach, England Test Cricket Team
Topic: Leading transformative change in team environments – what’s gone into Bazball?

6. Neeraj Chopra: Indian Olympic Gold Medallist and World Champion – Javelin
Topic: The journey, reflections and path ahead to create more world champions in India.

7. Abhinav Bindra: Indian Olympic Gold Medallist and 5-time Olympian, Shooting
Topic: The future of the Olympic movement and Olympism in India

8. Pullela Gopichand: All England Badminton Champion and iconic badminton coach
Topic: From also-rans to Champions – reflections on the growth of India as a badminton powerhouse.

9. Charlotte Burr: Director of Strategy, Corporate Development & Digital, FIFA
Topic: The importance of India to football and the importance of football to India

10. Will Brass: Chief Commercial Officer, Premier League
Topic: An insider’s account of the business affairs of the #1 football league in the world and its plans in a high-growth market like India.

11. Ellie Norman: Chief Marketing Officer, Manchester United
Topic: Managing a global fan base and an iconic brand through the ups and downs of sport through strategic marketing, partnerships, content and fan engagement

12. Scott Munn: Chief Football Officer, Tottenham Hotspur
Topic: How to harness and internationalise the power of a legacy fan base in the Indian subcontinent.

13. Mohammad Bobat: Director of Cricket Operations, RCB. Ex-Performance Director: England Men’s Cricket team.
Topic: Managing high-performance environments and translating potential to winning performances in a team filled with star players.

14. Harsh Jain: Co-Founder and CEO, Dream Sports
Topic: Helming the largest fantasy sports platform in the world and reflections on engaging 200m+ users.

15. Nic Coward: World Renowned Sports Advisor and Ex-Gen. Secretary of the Premier League, Ex-CEO of FA, Ex-Consultant FIFA
Topic: From market entry to consolidation – how foreign brands and investors can look at opportunities in the Indian sports market

16. Max Hamilton: Global Commercial Director, European Tour, Golf.
Topic: The journey of building and curating a premium brand identity for a sport and its properties.

17. Rufus Hack: CEO, Hawk-Eye Innovations
Topic: How technology builds trust in sports adjudication

18. Shikha Tandon: Former Indian Olympic Swimmer and chief partnerships officer, Svexa
Topic: How human performance intelligence, physiology, health data science, tech & molecular profiling translate into practical peak sports performance.

19. Gareth Balch: Co-Founder and CEO, Two Circles
Topic: Trajectories and trends in the global sports rights market – from acquisition to measurement

20. Anil Jayaraj: CEO, Viacom 18 Sports.
Topic: Delivering one of the largest sports leagues in the world from rights acquisition planning to advertising to operational execution to broadcast/innovations.

21. Abhijit Bhattacharya: Founder, Brahmaputra Volleyball League, former captain of the Indian volleyball team
Topic: Learnings from building a community sports league

22. Nitish Chiniwar: Founder and CEO, Bridges of Sports Foundation
Topic: Making the community a stakeholder in the sporting journeys of athletes

23. Rohini Mukherjee, Head – Global Partnerships & Strategy, Naandi Foundation
Topic: Empowering India’s adolescent girls through sport – The Toofan Games.

November 14, 2023

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

October 4, 2019

Seven talented children emerge as the winners of the first edition of the IDBI Federal Quest For Excellence

Mumbai, 21st January, 2019: After receiving thousands of entries from across the country and even internationally, IDBI Federal Life Insurance today announced the names of the seven talented children who have been selected as the winners of the first edition of the IDBI Federal Quest For Excellence #YoungChamps programme. The seven #YoungChamps, who are between the ages of 9-12 years, have been offered the opportunity to undergo full-time residential training for two years at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad which will be fully sponsored by IDBI Federal Life Insurance.

The seven children selected are:

1. Abhinav Garg, Bangalore

2. Naishaa Kaur Bhatoye, Mumbai

3. R. Sphoorty, Hyderabad

4. Sakshi Prakash, Dubai

5. Shanay K. Patel, Ahmedabad

6. Showrya Kiran, Hyderabad

7. Vansh Dev, New Delhi

These talented kids were selected after undergoing rigorous training of two weeks during the summer and winter vacations respectively at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad. During this four-week tenure, Pullela Gopichand and his team of coaches evaluated the kids on the basis of their performance, fitness, attitude, agility, and footwork. Based on this assessment, the children have now been offered the opportunity to undergo full-time residential training at the Academy for a period of two years.

Over the course of the two years, Pullela Gopichand and his team of coaches will work with the kids to improve different aspects of their game and to help them master new skills & techniques. While at the Academy, the kids will also be able to observe and interact with the country’s top national and international players which will further motivate and inspire them.

IDBI Federal Quest for Excellence #YoungChamps programme is India’s first-ever grassroots-level badminton initiative launched in December 2017. The aim of the programme is to promote badminton among the youth and to identify budding badminton players who will be the country’s next champions. In the initial round, over a thousand video entries were received from across India, as well as from Indians settled abroad in countries like Dubai, Singapore and Qatar. Out of these, 26 kids were selected for a day-long intensive evaluation process at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad. Based on this evaluation process, 14 kids were then selected for four weeks of training at the Academy, from which the eventual seven winners were identified.

Vighnesh Shahane, MD & CEO, IDBI Federal Life Insurance said, “We are delighted to announce the names of the seven children who are the winners of the first edition of the IDBI Federal Quest for Excellence #YoungChamps programme. The aim of this programme is to identify budding talent at the grassroots-level and encourage them to consider badminton as a viable career option. With Gopi and his team guiding them, we hope to see these talented youngsters emerge as the rising stars of tomorrow.”

Pullela Gopichand, Chief National Coach for the Indian Badminton team and Programme Head, IDBI Federal Quest For Excellence said, “It is through initiatives like IDBI Federal Quest For Excellence #YoungChamps programme that we are adding to the growing base of rising badminton stars in our country. I take pride in being associated with this programme and look forward to having these extremely dynamic kids train at the Academy.”

To watch the video on the #YoungChamps winners, click on the below link:

January 22, 2019
PBL S3 to launch with Saina vs Sindhu match

MUMBAI: The Vodafone Premier Badminton League (PBL) season 3 is just around the corner featuring top Indian and international badminton talent in the world, including eight Olympic Medal Winners.

The league kicks-off on 23 December 2017 and will go on till 14 January 2018. Guwahati will open the third season. The pan-Indian league will be hosted in five cities this time, with Delhi, Lucknow, Chennai, and Hyderabad being the others. Hyderabad, which is very much Indian badminton’s hub, will get the honour to host both the semi-finals as well as the final.

The defending champions Chennai Smashers will take on Awadhe Warriors on the first day, with the clash between India’s top two shuttle queens, Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu.

Indian badminton has a strong legacy from the past with players like Prakash Padukone and Pullela Gopichand who have put India on the global badminton map. Season one of the PBL attracted more than six crore badminton fans in India through various social media and other platforms, and this number only increased in season two.

The costliest player this time is India’s HS Prannoy. The World No 10 was bought by the Ahmedabad Smash Masters for a whopping Rs 62 lakh.

The women’s singles top-ranked player, Tai Tzu Ying, who has won five superseries titles this year, is a new name in the PBL and she will represent the Ahmedabad franchise. Men’s singles No 1 Viktor Axelsen, who was crowned the world champion in August, will play for Bengaluru Blasters.

Besides showcasing the best of international and Indian talent, the tournament has also been successful in widening the base of the game.

November 30, 2017
Spectator-friendly PBL III offers game’s highest prize across globe; to air on Star Sports 1, 3 & HD

MUMBAI: The Premier Badminton League Season III is back. The league has got eight Olympians fighting for the title and the format has been made crisper and more exciting to suit the viewers.

The PBL is set to start on 1 January, 2017, with new challenges, excitement and players. The third edition will go on for 15 days, and will have one of the world’s biggest badminton players vying for the throne.

Star Sports 1, 3 and HD1, HD3 will be broadcasting the matches which will take the audience to another journey which has seen the game gain momentum in the country.

The winning team will pocket Rs. 3 crore, the runners-up receiving equivalent to half that bounty — the highest in the world. The teams which finish third and fourth will bag Rs. 75 lakh each. The league will be taking place across India, in state-of-the-art stadia including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi and Lucknow.

With PV Sindhu winning a silver in the Olympics and the match getting one of the highest views in recent times, the Premier Badminton League organisers are hopeful something similar happens during their games. The Olympic Gold winner has been lapped up by the Hyderabad Hunters for a whopping Rs 61.5 lakh, making her the most expensive player in the league. Danish shuttler Jan O Jorgensen is the costliest male player, going under the hammer for Delhi Acers for Rs 59 lakh.

Among the Indian contingent, Hyderabad’s blue-eyed girl Sindhu is the most expensive female player at Rs 39 lakh, representing Chennai Smashers. The male category is led by Kidambi Srikanth, who’s playing for Awadh Warriors for Rs 51 lakh. Saina Nehwal sustained several injuries in 2016, but will still be one of the costliest Indian players, having been bought over to play for Rs 33 lakh.

Indian badminton national coach Pullela Gopichand said that the spectacular performance of Indian players at the Olympics has added a staggering number of new viewers to the game, and the league would be more exciting and interesting than ever before. Gopichand, the chief advisor of the PBL, also said that the league was trying to bring in certain innovations in the format of the league to make it even more spectator-friendly, like 11-pointer games.

December 21, 2016
Spectator-friendly PBL III offers game’s highest prize across globe; to air on Star Sports 1, 3 & HD

MUMBAI: The Premier Badminton League Season III is back. The league has got eight Olympians fighting for the title and the format has been made crisper and more exciting to suit the viewers.

The PBL is set to start on 1 January, 2017, with new challenges, excitement and players. The third edition will go on for 15 days, and will have one of the world’s biggest badminton players vying for the throne.

Star Sports 1, 3 and HD1, HD3 will be broadcasting the matches which will take the audience to another journey which has seen the game gain momentum in the country.

The winning team will pocket Rs. 3 crore, the runners-up receiving equivalent to half that bounty — the highest in the world. The teams which finish third and fourth will bag Rs. 75 lakh each. The league will be taking place across India, in state-of-the-art stadia including Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, New Delhi and Lucknow.

With PV Sindhu winning a silver in the Olympics and the match getting one of the highest views in recent times, the Premier Badminton League organisers are hopeful something similar happens during their games. The Olympic Gold winner has been lapped up by the Hyderabad Hunters for a whopping Rs 61.5 lakh, making her the most expensive player in the league. Danish shuttler Jan O Jorgensen is the costliest male player, going under the hammer for Delhi Acers for Rs 59 lakh.

Among the Indian contingent, Hyderabad’s blue-eyed girl Sindhu is the most expensive female player at Rs 39 lakh, representing Chennai Smashers. The male category is led by Kidambi Srikanth, who’s playing for Awadh Warriors for Rs 51 lakh. Saina Nehwal sustained several injuries in 2016, but will still be one of the costliest Indian players, having been bought over to play for Rs 33 lakh.

Indian badminton national coach Pullela Gopichand said that the spectacular performance of Indian players at the Olympics has added a staggering number of new viewers to the game, and the league would be more exciting and interesting than ever before. Gopichand, the chief advisor of the PBL, also said that the league was trying to bring in certain innovations in the format of the league to make it even more spectator-friendly, like 11-pointer games.

December 21, 2016