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Tag: Saina Nehwal

  • TV9 rallies India Inc with Gopichand for smashing badminton showdown

    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!

  • Jetsynthesys’ Real Sports bolsters talent roster with Malvika Bansod

    Jetsynthesys’ Real Sports bolsters talent roster with Malvika Bansod

    Mumbai: Dedicated to nurturing and providing comprehensive support to young and blossomingIndian sports talent, JetSynthesys has welcomed Indian badminton prodigy Malvika Bansod to its talent management company, Real Sports.

    This latest addition to an already stellar roster, which includes Saina Nehwal, cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy, among others, reinforces Real Sports’ commitment to empowering outstanding athletes.

    At 23, Malvika has cemented her place as one of Indian badminton’s brightest stars. Ranked World No. 34 by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), she made history this year as the first Indian to reach the Hylo Open finals and joined the elite ranks of PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal by advancing to the quarter-finals of the Super 1000 China Open. With five international titles under her belt, Malvika represents the new generation of Indian sporting excellence.

    Speaking about her partnership with Real Sports, Bansod said,“I am truly excited to join the Real Sports family at this pivotal stage of my career. With their expertise and vision, I am confident we can explore new opportunities that align with our shared goals and values. I look forward to a dynamic partnership and the chance to create impactful collaborations in the future.”

    Speaking about the association, JetSynthesys founder & CEO Rajan Navani said,“At JetSynthesys, we are committed to creating meaningful opportunities for athletes who inspire the nation. Malvika’s journey is a story of talent, grit and perseverance, which is what Real Sports also stands for, in our mission to support and nurture world-class athletes from India. Our partnerships with athletes from multiple sports have demonstrated how our integrated approach can unlock new opportunities for stars, both on and off the field.”

    Real Sports chief business officer Tarish Bhatt added,”Malvika Bansod represents the next wave of Indian badminton talent, and we are honoured to welcome her to Real Sports. Our goal is to empower athletes by providing them with opportunities that go beyond traditional partnerships, helping them create a lasting impact on the sports ecosystem. With Malvika, we see immense potential to drive meaningful engagement for both, her and her growing fan base.”

  • Route Amplify 2.0: Route Mobile & CNBC-TV18 spotlight digital communication and identity

    Route Amplify 2.0: Route Mobile & CNBC-TV18 spotlight digital communication and identity

    Mumbai: Route Amplify, a conclave presented by Route Mobile Ltd, a CPaaS provider for enterprises, OTT players, and mobile network operators in association with CNBC-TV18, showcased conversational solutions, customer experience breakthroughs, and digital trust strategies on 27 September in Mumbai. Designed to advance cloud communications and digital identity, Route Amplify 2.0 brought together thought leaders, industry experts, and key stakeholders from around the world, fostering discussions to shape the country’s largest CPaaS-focused conclave.

    The esteemed speakers at the event included Edelweiss Group chairman Rashesh Shah; Route Mobile MD and Group CEO Rajdip Gupta; former World No. 1 badminton player Saina Nehwal; HDFC Bank chief digital officer Anjani Rathor; Restaurants Brand Asia group chief technology officer Kiran Komatla; PwC India managing director – customer transformation Vivek Srivastava; Google head of strategic partnerships Abhinav Jha; Deloitte partner – customer strategy & design Vivette D’cruz; Landmark Group customer & loyalty product leader (Middle East) Emily Ong; Godrej Consumer Products Ltd head of business transformation & digital Vijay Kannan; and Amazon Web Services head of customer solutions – CIO advisory (India & South Asia) Dr Bishwajit Mohapatra.

    Building on the success of the first season, Route Amplify Season 2 focused on the themes of ‘Conversations & Trust,’ exploring trends, innovations, and insights across industries, with special emphasis on Generative AI’s role in customer experience.

    India, the second-largest market for OTT consumption after China, lacked a CPaaS-focused event. Route Mobile, a global CPaaS player, initiated this platform to shape the future of digital communications.

    The event also offered a platform for networking and knowledge sharing, highlighting the impact of cloud communications on businesses globally.

    Route Mobile MD & Group CEO Rajdipkumar Gupta said, “With Route Amplify Edition 2.0, we aim to build on the momentum of last year’s success and enthusiasm, creating an even more enriching platform for industry leaders to unite and drive innovation to shape the future of digital communications. Our primary goal is to foster discussions that will lead to real-world developments and solutions in these vital areas.”

  • Sony Sports flags off anti-drugs movement

    Sony Sports flags off anti-drugs movement

    MUMBAI: Drugs and their abuse are two of the most worrisome habits amongst India’s youth. And Sony Sports Network has put its best foot behind an effort to curtail the consumption of hallucinogens. Titled ‘Iss Baar Drugs Ki Haar,’ its mission is to motivate Indian youth and do it over the long term.

    According to a United Nations study, approximately 13 percent of drug abuse victims in India are below 20, with the nation experiencing a 70 percent rise in narcotic consumption over the past eight years. And in most instances, drugs are usually introduced to youngsters  by someone they know, in many cases, a friend.

    “Sony Sports Network is extremely proud to launch the Iss Baar Drugs Ki Haar’ movement and we sincerely believe that sports has the power to instil and bring about a positive change among the youth,” says  Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer -distribution & international business and head – sports business Rajesh Kaul. “In association with India’s top athletes across disciplines, we are confident of making a statement and inspiring young India to stay away from the influence of drugs.”

    Prominent athletes of India across disciplines have joined hands with Sony Sports Network to spread the Iss Baar Drugs Ki Haar message to young India. In the films, these sporting icons are spreading awareness of the harmful effects of drugs and aiming to inspire as well as encourage people to choose the life of a champion by saying no to drugs.

    Newly appointed head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, Gautam Gambhir, football stalwarts like Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia, multiple grand slam winner Sania Mirza, icons like Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, Indian women’s cricket team vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, Indian Hockey veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, Indian men’s hockey team’s former captain Manpreet Singh and two-time world champion boxer Nikhat Zareen are featured in these films. In addition to this, Indian football team captain and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, former team India cricketer Ashish Nehra, team India cricketer Deepak Chahar, Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal, ace Indian shooter Anjum Moudgil, Indian women’s hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia, Asian Games gold medallist Chirag Shetty and Satwik Rankireddy, Puja Tomar who created history as the first Indian to win a fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Indian women’s team bowler Sneh Rana are just some of eminent personalities who have come forward to be a part of Sony Sports Network’s public service movement.

    ‘Iss Baar Drugs Ki Haar’ is aimed at potential first-time drug users to make the right choice and saying NO to sampling drugs. The whole movement of Iss Baar Drugs Ki Haar aims to motivate young India and emphasize living a fit, fulfilling, and healthy life through sports rather than succumbing to drug abuse.

  • “We are a team of highly driven and skilled individuals who eat, sleep, and breathe sports”: Fairplay Sports founder Bandana Chhetri

    “We are a team of highly driven and skilled individuals who eat, sleep, and breathe sports”: Fairplay Sports founder Bandana Chhetri

    Mumbai: Sport consultancy and agency, FairPlay Sports handles brands, business, endorsement deals and public image for athletes in various disciplines. Saina Nehwal, Karun Nair, Sunil Chhetri, Sachin Baby, and Prasidh Krishna are just a few of the athletes it represents. Additionally, it forms brand alliances with competitions like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Indian Super League (ISL).

    When discussing the company’s plans and objectives for the year with Indiantelevision.com, Fairplay Sports founder Bandana Chhetri mentioned that the company provides athlete endorsements, digital brand campaigns and partnerships, IPL/ISL and other prominent league brand partnerships, and athlete management.

    She further explains that the company does not really set goals based on deadlines because the sports sponsorship business is so dynamic.

    “However, as an agency, we are constantly working on the development of our athletes and, at the same time, encouraging more brands to collaborate with these real-life inspirations every subsequent year,” Chhetri said.

    She added, “It’s our responsibility to ensure that every athlete we represent can explore commercial opportunities outside the field of play. We also work with various sports leagues and franchises and are always pursuing mutually beneficial partnerships between a brand and the league or sports team. Through these associations, we help the brands understand the power of sports marketing better.”

    Speaking about the company’s gameplan, Chhetri said, “It is simple.” She added, “We are a team of highly driven and skilled individuals who eat, sleep, and breathe sports. We constantly speak to various brands across the country and introduce the growing scope of investment in sports and athletes in India. The requirements of modern-day athletes are much more as compared to traditional times, and our team ensures that the athletes that we represent only need to focus on their challenges on the field; everything else we take care of.”

    Chhetri further explained that the company’s experience of working at various levels in the sports industry has given it expertise in sports marketing and partnerships, because of which some of the top brands trust its research in the field. “On the other hand, athletes trust us because we not only understand the market, but also have a deep understanding of the game they play as well. As mentioned earlier, we eat, sleep and breathe sports as a team, and we feel that the mix of experience and passion is what makes us stand out as an agency,” she mentioned.

    She further added that the agency started small with the focus resting on athletes who trust the agency and services since day one and have been a part of the FairPlay Sports family ever since. “Our dedication towards our work attracted more talented athletes, and we were ready to take the leap once we were ready as a team. From just five athletes back when we started off, today we proudly and exclusively manage more than 60 talented athletes from various sports,” she said.

    On talking about the impact of Covid, she said that it was indeed a bump since so many sports events were delayed or cancelled, not to mention the fact that marketing budgets got frozen. During that time, however, we shifted our focus to enabling digital partnerships and associations, and many of our athletes participated in philanthropic campaigns and activities. Once the virus had subsided, sports were one of the main things that brought some joy to a stressed population, and we were extremely proud to be associated with projects like ISL and IPL, which were conducted during Covid and worked towards spreading a feeling of winning against all odds.”

    She explained that a lot of research has been done on marrying an athlete with a brand. “First, we always try to understand the objectives of the brand and then design a dedicated plan as per the budget and goals. Thanks to the variety of athletes that we work with and our good relationship with various sports leagues, we are able to design an effective campaign for brands which assists them in reaching their overall marketing goals,” Chhetri added.

    In terms of deals that were recently done between sponsors and sports organisations that the agency facilitated, she names IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants teaming up with Gigabyte Aorus for the previous IPL season. Gigabyte Technology and its gaming brand AORUS, the associate sponsor of Lucknow Super Giants, launched the franchise’s metaverse. With the launch, the company aims to maximise the potential of online fan engagement experiences and to help the team and fans get closer.

    It has recently partnered with athletes from companies like Fire-boltt, Budweiser, and Boost. She added that when the company signs an athlete for representation for two years, it is a good time for both sides to understand the other. “It takes time to build up momentum with an athlete, and having a talent on board for two years [if not more] helps both parties evaluate the progress fairly,” Chhetri added at length.

  • Shivam Dube signs with FairPlay Sports

    Shivam Dube signs with FairPlay Sports

    Mumbai: Indian cricketer and Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Shivam Dube has signed up with the Delhi-headquartered sports agency FairPlay Sports.

    The agency, which also manages Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri, badminton superstar Saina Nehwal and cricketers like Nitish Rana, Karun Nair, Chetan Sakariya, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and more, will handle Dube’s brand endorsements, commercial engagements, social & digital media and appearances.

    “I am really excited about and looking forward to working with the team at FairPlay Sports. They have a great reputation in the sports community, and I look forward to them handling all of my off-field activities,” said Dube.

    “Shivam is undoubtedly one of the most prolific players for India. He’s young, fit, and very motivated, and his best is yet to come! We’re proud and excited to welcome him and hopefully provide him with the support he needs off the field so he can maximise his potential on it,” said Fairplay Sports co-founder Bandana Chhetri.

  • 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.

  • Zee Cinema to air world TV premiere of ‘Saina’ on 25 July

    Zee Cinema to air world TV premiere of ‘Saina’ on 25 July

    Mumbai: ZEE Cinema is all set to bring the world television premiere of ‘Saina’ on 25 July, 12 noon.

    The biopic on badminton champion Saina Nehwal, Saina follows the dreams of a small-town girl who went on to conquer the world of badminton and become the pride of an entire nation. It also highlights the immense support system including her family, coach, and friends that turned her dreams into a reality.

    Directed by Amole Gupte, the film features Parineeti Chopra donning the role of Saina along with the remarkable Manav Kaul, Meghna Malik, and Eshan Naqvi in pivotal roles.

    Talking about the film, Saina Nehwal said, “It was surreal to see my own life on screen. Amole Gupte’s creative vision, Parineeti, and Naishaa’s portrayal of myself are both a delight to watch. This experience of rewatching my journey has made me realise that sure, hard work and talent are what drive you to live your dreams, but one of the most important aspects is the support system. I am indebted to my parents, my husband, and my coaches as without them, my life wouldn’t be the same. They constantly motivated me and pushed me to chase my dreams, and that’s what kept me going on the most difficult days. I can only hope that my story will positively motivate young dreamers to go all out in the pursuit of their dreams.

    Sharing her experience, Parineeti Chopra said, “Saina has inspired millions and it was extremely fulfilling to play her on screen. It took blood and sweat to transform myself. I vividly remember spending my days as an athlete and even crying out of pain on the court. But it was all worth it. Saina Nehwal was my initial guiding force. Priyanka Chopra even gave me pointers on how to mould myself for the role, since she played a sports character in the past. I am so excited as Zee Cinema brings the story to a much wider audience yet again with the World Television Premiere of Saina on 25 July.”

    Amole Gupte shared, “My journey with project Saina began about 6 years ago and it was no less than a rollercoaster. My passion grew with every setback faced by the film, however at one point I may have had lost hope, but, like Saina’s support system in the movie, my diligent team helped me keep the show running. I am grateful that Saina, herself, advised Parineeti which added to the authenticity of the character. We were able to tell a story that’s a must-watch for anyone driven by passion, and with the World Television Premiere of Saina on Zee Cinema, we get to achieve that.”

  • Do-iT Talent Ventures signs badminton star Saina Nehwal

    Do-iT Talent Ventures signs badminton star Saina Nehwal

    MUMBAI:  Do-iT Talent Venture, the firm owned by Darshana Bhalla and Radha Kapoor Khanna, reinforces its sport portfolio with the 4th most famous global woman athlete Saina Nehwal.

    Do-iT Venture has signed badminton player Saina Nehwal for the long term purpose for all her commercial and player endeavours which also includes sponsorships, endorsements, publishing, appearances, digital rights amongst others.

    Nehwal is one of India’s top badminton players and earlier she was the flag bearer of the Indian badminton contingent for the longest time. Bronze in 2012 Olympics and Commonwealth gold in 2010 and 2018 are some of the highlights of her illustrious career. She is the only Indian woman to be ranked number one in the world. In 2016 she was awarded India’s third highest civilian award, Padma Bhushan.

    Do-iT Talent Ventures (India) CEO and Founder Darshana Bhalla said, “Right at the advent of Do-iT Talent Ventures, we expressed that we believe in talent across various arenas and having Saina Nehwal as one of our lead talent illustrates our passion and enthusiasm towards Sports. Saina is a renowned champion and her dedication and commitment resonates ours, hence collectively we look forward to do some exemplary work. We believe in optimising our talent’s potential by putting together a robust strategy followed by an intently structured micro action plan”.

    Nehwal added, “As an individual, I have always attempted to work with experts. I am sure that Do-iT Talent Ventures’ proficiency in understanding my sport and its potential influence will be highly impactful for me and my career. They hold high repute and have aligned work ethics with me. The team has immense experience in managing top talent across fields and I am excited about this association.”

    In a short span of three months Do-iT Talent Ventures has signed a number of celebrities across entertainment and sports like Farhan Akhtar, John Abraham, Lara Dutta, Kajal Aggarwal, Neeraj Pandey Samir Kochhar and Vicky Ratnani in Culinary. In sports, they have Virender Sehwag, Mahesh Bhupathi, Geeta Phogat, Ashwini Ponnappa, Robin Singh, Viren Rasquinha and Aparna Popat.

  • Yonex renews sponsorship deal with BAI for Rs 100 cr

    Yonex renews sponsorship deal with BAI for Rs 100 cr

    MUMBAI: The country’s growing craze for sports is also witnessing a phenomenal interest in a sport like badminton. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) has created history by becoming the first National Sports Federation for an Olympic discipline to enter into a Rs 100 crore sponsorship deal by renewing its existing equipment and apparel partner association with Yonex Sunrise Sport for the next four years. Each year costs Rs 25 crore.

    The BAI invited bids for equipment, accessories and apparel partnership for the period between 2018 and 2022 on 11 April 2018. In an interaction with Indiantelevision.com, Yonex Sunrise Sport country manager Vikram Dhar said, “We are very happy to extend the deal with BAI since we’ve had a long association. We have always been part of the development of badminton in India. The previous deal for four years was for approximately Rs 50 crore. We also have tie-ups all across India with various academies, state associations and players. We feel that the growth in sports market and the badminton will enhance the game’s development in the country.”

    Yonex will exclusively endorse all items like racquets, clothing, accessories, badminton court mats, strings and all other sponsors products related to the game of badminton as the exclusive ‘official equipment of BAI and the Indian national badminton team’.

    The BAI had invited bids for sponsorship of badminton sports in India. The submission of bid documents date was extended to 30 April 2018 from 26 April 2018. Yonex had little competition in its bid to extend the existing sponsorship contract.

    Badminton in India has a good future with the potential of players like Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth, P Kashyap, Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta to name a few.

    In addition to the BAI, Yonex also sponsors three Indian shuttlers at an individual level – PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal and Kidambi Srikanth.

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