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Tag: Vikas Gautam

  • EaseMyTrip extends it’s partnership with Yuva Kabaddi Series

    EaseMyTrip extends it’s partnership with Yuva Kabaddi Series

    Mumbai: EaseMyTrip.com, one of the online travel platforms, has partnered with India’s first-ever year-round sports tournament conceptualised to develop and nurture the Kabaddi ecosystem, Yuva Kabaddi Series (YKS). This is a strategic move by EaseMyTrip, a key partner in its mission to become a one-stop platform for future kabaddi champions in India and promote the game across various parts of India.

    As an associate sponsor for the ongoing Maharashtra leg, EaseMyTrip and YKS both have committed their association for yet another time to boost the common goal of promoting “Mission Kabaddi” in the country.

    The competition has been providing a highly competitive environment for India’s budding kabaddi players, by preparing them for a bigger stage and the support from EaseMyTrip has helped to amplify the monetary benefits to the winners and stand-out performers thereby cultivating a more promising and brighter future for the nation’s youth.

    “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with EaseMyTrip, a strong supporter of sports across various domains and a committed contributor to the goal of making India a sporting powerhouse. This collaboration marks another exciting chapter for the sport of Kabaddi, opening up new avenues of promise and talent. Our shared ambition is to redefine the trajectory of Indian kabaddi for the future,” said  Yuva Kabaddi Series, CEO Vikas Gautam.

    Launched in 2022, the Yuva Kabaddi Series gives the next-gen players (Under 23, Below 80 kgs) a chance to showcase their talent and groom them for the biggest stage in Kabaddi as well.

    Sharing his thoughts on the partnership,   EaseMyTrip co-founder  Rikant Pittie said, “We proudly announce the extension of our esteemed partnership with the Yuva Kabaddi Series, a pioneering year-round sports tournament in India. This significant collaboration reaffirms our unwavering commitment to cultivating burgeoning sports talents and championing India’s trajectory as a dominant force in the sporting arena. Our dedication goes beyond a mere alliance; it epitomises a steadfast promise to cultivate a successful future for the nation’s youth through the transformative power of sports.”

    Till now the series has successfully concluded eight editions, with a total of 890 thrilling matches played over 20 months, impacting 1821 players, engaging 103 coaches to mentor young talents along with 226 officials to ensure the highest level of fair play and quality in the game in the country in the grassroots level.easy-my

  • Union Budget 2024: Record Rs 3442 cr boosts India’s sports sector

    Union Budget 2024: Record Rs 3442 cr boosts India’s sports sector

    Mumbai: During her speech, the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated, “The country is proud of our youth scaling new heights in sports. The highest-ever medal tally in Asian Games and Asian Para Games in 2023 reflects a high confidence level. Chess prodigy and our Number-One ranked player Praggnanandhaa put up a stiff fight against the reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsson in 2023. Today, India has over 80 chess grandmasters compared to little over 20 in 2010.”

    Sports budget allocation 2024-25

    •    Khelo India: Rs 1045 Cr
    •    SAI: Rs 822 Cr
    •    National Sports Development Fund: Rs 18 Cr

    Here are the post-budget reactions of India’s sporting business stakeholders

    Punit Balan Group chairman & managing director Punit Balan shared his thoughts on the budget allocation stating, “The government’s proactive stance towards sports through this increased allocation of funds will provide the impetus for Indian athletes to shine brightly in international competitions, contributing to the continued growth and success of the country’s success on the global stage. With the Paris Olympics looming on the horizon, we are confident that our youth will make it the best-ever campaign for India.”

    Reflecting on the government’s sustained commitment to the growth of sports in India, Ultimate Kho Kho CEO and League Commissioner Tenzing Niyogi highlighted, “Last year, we witnessed a Rs 300 crore increase in sports allocations, which contributed to India’s success in the Asian and Para-Asian Games. The government’s continued commitment is evident in the latest budget, with a total allocation of Rs 3442 crores, which reflects a significant increase from the previous year’s budget. The increased allocations not only boost the morale of our athletes but also serve as a testament to the government’s vision for developing and nurturing sporting talent. As India gears up for the upcoming Paris Olympics, this heightened financial support will pave the way for a promising era for sports in the country.”

    One of the key beneficiaries of this augmented budget is Khelo India, which has received a significant increase from Rs 880 crores to Rs 900 crores.

    “The substantial allocation in this year’s budget not just for the sports sector but also for Khelo India will play a pivotal role with regard to grassroots development. This support for our athletes across all sporting disciplines will facilitate more participation and lead to more medals at the Olympics and other international tournaments,” commented U Mumba CEO Suhail Chandhok.

    Concurring with him, Yuva Kabaddi Series CEO Vikas Gautam emphasised, “The commendable allocation in this year’s budget marks a significant stride towards transforming India into a sporting powerhouse. By prioritising grassroots infrastructure via increasing the Khelo India budget, we are not just investing in facilities but nurturing the latent talent that resides in every corner of our nation. This budget reflects a visionary approach, recognizing that the true potential of our athletes lies in the foundation we build for them today. It’s a resounding commitment to creating a robust sports ecosystem and with our combined efforts I hope this will fuel the aspirations of our youth and propel India to new heights on the global stage.”

    Gamepoint co-founder & CEO Aditya Reddy believes that the impact of sports extends beyond the field, offering massive economic opportunities.

    “PM Narendra Modi during the inauguration of the Khelo India Youth Games in Chennai stated that the government has resolved to make the country an important centre of the global sports ecosystem. He also highlighted that sports was not just limited to the field, but also presents a huge economic opportunity, he said the country’s sports-related industry will be worth at least Rs 1 lakh crore in a few years. Given the positive approach of the government towards sports, we hope that post the Lok Sabha elections, the new government will increase the budget allocation and announce new measures for the growth of Indian sports,” noted Aditya Reddy.

    Alongside the increased budget allocations, FM Nirmala Sitharaman praised the achievements of the country’s youth in sports and highlighted the confidence level reflected in India’s highest-ever medal tally at last year’s Asian and Para Asian Games during her speech.

    In addition, she proudly stated that India now boasts over 80 Chess Grandmasters which is a significant increase from just over 20 in 2010 and sparked optimism among the country’s sporting business stakeholders.

    Punit Balan, whose PBG-owned team Balan Alaskan Knights competed in the inaugural Global Chess League (GCL) last year said, “Our FM, Nirmala Sitharaman, acknowledging the remarkable achievements of our youth in sports, particularly in chess, reflects the bright future of the sport in our nation. We take pride in Raunak Sadhwani, the prodigy of Balan Alaskan Knights, being one of India’s 80 Grandmasters.”

    The positive sentiments were echoed by Suhail Chandhok who expressed, “As mentioned by FM Nirmala Sitharaman, Indian athletes have been making their presence felt on the International stage and that is a significant indication of our country becoming a sporting powerhouse. Our upGrad Mumba Masters’ grandmasters Vidit Gujrathi, Harika Dronavalli, and Koneru Humpy securing Medals at last year’s Asian Games 2022 have brought immense pride to Indian chess, with Vidit also going on to secure a place in the prestigious Candidates tournament.”

    With the continued support from the government, the sports sector in India is poised for further development and a bright future for athletes across various disciplines.

  • DD Sports to telecast fast-paced action of Yuva Kabaddi Series 2023

    DD Sports to telecast fast-paced action of Yuva Kabaddi Series 2023

    Mumbai: DD Sports, one of India’s oldest and largest sports broadcasters, will telecast the exciting action from the ongoing Monsoon Edition of the CARS24 Yuva Kabaddi Series 2023.

    Launched in 2022, this kabaddi series for the youth has been providing a highly competitive environment for India’s budding stars. With a participation of 300-plus players from 17 states, the Monsoon Edition will be beamed on DD Sports which enjoys wider reach and access across the country.

    8 out of the 12 players who recently contributed to India’s triumphant victory in Junior World Cup have honed their skills through the Yuva Kabaddi Series which provides a platform to the country’s aspiring talents.

    “The CARS24 Yuva Kabaddi Series has received a shot in the arm with telecast of its matches on DD Sports. The wider reach of the tournament will play an instrumental role in inspiring more youngsters to engage from the remotest part of the country as well as introduce the game to the youths in metro cities. It resonates with our mission to be omnipresent and ensure more and more talent gets noticed with the series,” said Yuva Kabaddi Series CEO Vikas Gautam.

    In the recent time, DD Sports has broadcasted all kinds of sports which includes big-ticket events like 2023 Cricket Asia Cup and it also forged strategic partnerships with entities such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup, NBA and PGTA, among others in order to tap the large audience base with fresh sports content.

    The Monsoon Edition of CARS24 Yuva Kabaddi Series kicked off on 24 September at the Fatima College Indoor Stadium in Madurai. The tournament will conclude on 22 October. Currently, Chola Veerans are leading in the promotion round with 19 points followed by Nilgiri Knights on 17 points.

    This tournament provides a professional platform for India’s next-gen players (U-23, Below 80 kgs), grooming them for the biggest stage and also allowing them to showcase their talent within an extremely competitive framework. Till date, the series has witnessed the active participation of over 1400 youth players, who have engaged in 689 matches, facilitated by 76 coaches and overseen by 177 officials. Players from across the country join to be part of the series, making it truly a sport of the nation as the widespread participation highlights the growing popularity and reach of Kabaddi.

    Since the inaugural edition of Yuva Kabaddi Series in 2022, it has been also consistently streamed on FanCode, catering to its strong user base of over 100 million and successfully reaching out to a younger fanbase.

    Beyond creating a viable career pathway in the sport, the series also emphasises the development of well-rounded individuals. Players also receive support in areas such as financial literacy, media training, and training in nutrition during their time with the Yuva Kabaddi Series as part of the tournament gratification.