Unseeded Naresh Singhva of Maharashtra pulled off the biggest win of his career when he knocked out top seed Adith Achpal of TN in the boys Under-19 pre-quarter-finals of the 6th Cello NSCI Open National Circuit squash tournament, hosted by NSCI at their glass backed squash courts, here, on Saturday. The tournament is co-sponsored by Rubicon Consumer Healthcare and Hbits.
Singhva, an Adivasi lad from Kalote, in Khopoli, ranked No. 64 in the country, trains at the Start Squash Academy in Khopoli, a free training facility under the mentorship of former India No. 1 Ritwick Bhattacharya. Singhva retrieved every ball the top seed, Achpal, India No. 8, could hit at him and finally wore down the resistance to win the grueling five-game encounter 11-9, 8-11, 14-12, 6-11, 11-7.
In other upsets, unseeded Sharan Punjabi defeated MP’s Adarsh Banodha (5/8) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5, while unseeded Suraj Chand of Maharashtra knocked out Vedash Kushwaha (9/16) 11-3, 11-5, 11-7 in the men’s pre-quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, top seed Rahul Baitha and Janet Vidhi (3/4) of Maharashtra advanced into the quarter-finals with no-fuss wins in the men’s and women’s singles respectively. Baitha defeated Secundrabad’s Ajit Sharma 11-8, 11-7, 11-7, while Janet got the better of Mona Chauhan 11-7, 11-5, 11-3.
JioCinema continued to set new benchmarks as it clocked 2.5 Cr. concurrent viewers during the Qualifier 1 of the TATA IPL 2023 match between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings. JioCinema not only broke its own record for the third time this season but also equalled the World Record set during India vs New Zealand Semi-Final in the ICC 2019 World Cup.
On April 17, 2.4 Cr. viewers came together to watch MS Dhoni’s CSK defend against a high-octane run chase from Royal Challengers Bangalore with bated breath at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.This record was set after bettering the one they set on April 12th of a peak concurrency touching 2.2 Crore, again when Dhoni gave a glimpse of the good old days of thrilling finishes against Rajasthan Royals.
The records are evidence to cricket fans’ preference to watch the TATA IPL 2023 on JioCinema. In addition to edge-of-the-seat match action, JioCinema’s repeat record-rumble comes on the back of several fan-centric offerings such as free streaming across all network subscribers, 4K streaming, 12-language commentary and free-to-play contest Jeeto Dhan Dhana Dhan with exciting prizes for every match including a car.
JioCinema continues to set global benchmarks in the world of digital sports viewing as it clocked over 1300 Cr. video views in the first five weeks of the TATA IPL 2023. Viewers were glued to JioCinema’s fan-centric presentation as the average time spent per viewer per match touched 60 minutes. TATA IPL 2023 on Connected TV has already reached twice the number of viewers than that on HD TV.
JioCinema has 26 top brands partnering for their digital streaming of TATA IPL 2023, including (Co-Presenting Sponsor) Dream11, (Co-Powered) JioMart, PhonePe, Tiago EV, Jio (Associate Sponsor) Appy Fizz, ET Money, Castrol, TVS, Oreo, Bingo, Sting, AJIO, Haier, RuPay, Louis Philippe Jeans, Amazon, Rapido, Ultra Tech Cement, Puma, Kamla Pasand, Kingfisher Power Soda, Jindal Panther TMT Rebar, Saudi Tourism, Spotify and AMFI.
Today, adidas is unveiling Move For The Planet; a new global initiative that will harness the collective activity of sporting communities across the world.
adidas is encouraging people to turn activity into action as it pledges to donate €1 to Common Goal for every 10 minutes of activity logged across 34 sports in the adidas Running app between 1 June – 12 June –up to €1.5m. The contributions will support projects around the globe that educate and engage communities on sustainability through sport.
Ashley Czarnowski, Senior Director, Global Purpose Marketing at adidas said:“Move For The Planet is an opportunity to harness the world’s love of sport to support some of the communities that need it most. The impact of the climate crisis is being felt more severely in some places than others, however, the one thing that unites us all is our love for sport. So, in between 1 June and 12 June, we’re encouraging our global sporting community to join the movement and move for the places we play – it doesn’t matter how we move, just that we move to make a difference.”
Common Goal will direct contributions raised by Move For The Planet to projects in countries including Colombia, Greece, South Africa and Pakistan. Whether it’s renewing a community’s sports pitch using recycled materials or providing training on how to reduce plastic waste in sports facilities, the varied programs that have been selected focus on some of the places most impacted by the effects of climate change.
Move For The Planet is part of adidas’ wider sustainability initiatives as the company continues its mission to make what’s best for the athlete better for the planet. Earlier this year, adidas announced that it is ahead of schedule in its journey to replace virgin polyester with recycled polyester in its products wherever possible by the end of 2024. In 2022, 96% of all the polyester adidas used was recycled.
However, using recycled materials does not mean that the problem is solved, and Move For The Planet represents a broadening of adidas’ focus beyond its 2024 recycled polyester goal.
Today, adidas and Arsenal reveal the Arsenal home jersey for the 2023/24 season, marking the 20th anniversary of the ‘Invincibles’ season with a bold new look.
Taking design inspiration from the kit worn by the record-breaking team, the jersey features a new shade of striking red offset with a white sleeve and a lightning bolt pattern that flows vertically from top to bottom.
The new kit draws on the spirit and attitude of the ‘Invincibles’ team of 2003/04, marking the beginning of the 20th anniversary of Arsenal’s unbeaten Premier League season. The Arsenal crest, adidas’ logo, and three stripes down each sleeve all feature in gold, and the team’s record of 26 wins and 12 draws over 38 games in that historical season is etched into the side of the authentic version of the kit.
Arsenal legend, Ray Parlour, said: “Playing in that season twenty years ago, surrounded by so many wonderful players is something I will never forget, and it is great to see we are celebrating our club history by bringing out this new home shirt – something I think all the supporters will truly love.”
The on-field version of the shirt is constructed with HEAT.RDY technology, optimized to keep players feeling comfortable while performing on the biggest stage thanks to the breathable fabric technology that absorbs moisture and dries quickly. The supporter version of the jersey features AEROREADY technology, which uses sweat-wicking or absorbent materials to keep the body feeling dry.
A minimum of 70% of this product is a blend of recycled and renewable materials, continuing adidas’ ongoing commitment to help end plastic waste.Earlier this year, adidas announced that it is ahead of schedule in its journey to replace virgin polyester with recycled polyester in its products wherever possible by the end of 2024. In 2022, 96% of all the polyester adidas used was recycled.
The new kit will be worn on pitch for the first time when Arsenal Women face Aston Villa in the final WSL game of the season on Saturday 27th May. The men’s team will also wear the new kit in their final Premier League match at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday 28th May.
Reebok, a brand synonymous with sports and fitness, has announced a new chapter in its journey. Under the aegis of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) in India, Reebok is re-establishing itself as a leading sports and performance brand with a powerful new campaign that resonates deeply with audiences.
The campaign, titled ‘I am the New,’ features two extraordinary individuals who have defied stereotypes and created new rules for themselves – World’s No. 1 T20 batter Suryakumar Yadav and leading actor Taapsee Pannu. Their inspiring stories of overcoming challenges and charting their own paths embodies the campaign’s core message – embrace your unorthodox spirit and create your own trail.
A love for sports and fitness is intrinsic to Indian culture. Sports is the heartbeat of the nation, with millions of people actively participating in and following a variety of sports across media. It is only natural that Reebok reclaims its legacy of being the premier sports and performance brand in the country, encouraging one and all to adopt fitness as way of life. In keeping with this philosophy, the ‘I am the New’ campaign is an emotional call to action for everyone who has ever been held back by stereotypes or felt like they didn’t fit in. It is a rallying cry for the youth of India to break free from limitations and embrace their true potential.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Manoj Juneja, Chief Operating Officer, Reebok, India, said “Reebok has played a pivotal role in transforming the world’s perception of sports and fitness, and this campaign is all about cementing that reputation and reclaiming our position at the top. Our new brand ambassadors, both embody our message of empowerment and self-expression through sports. With their help, we’re excited to deepen our connection with the youth of India and drive growth for our brand. ‘I am the New’ is more than just a campaign; it’s a call to make sports an integral part of our lives and strive for greatness in everything we do.”
On his association with Reebok, cricketer Suryakumar Yadavsaid, “I’m excited to partner with Reebok, a brand that resonates with my outlook on sports and fitness. I believe an individual evolves best when faced with challenges. Reebok’s new campaign perfectly depicts my unconventional approach towards the game. I look forward to inspiring a wave of energy and igniting a spark of ‘I am the New’ philosophy amongst the youth of the country.”
Sharing her excitement about this association with Reebok, actor Taapsee Pannu commented, “It is so exciting to be associated with a brand like Reebok that enables you to push your boundaries, and most importantly, to be yourself. It might be easy to follow the crowd, but it takes an immense amount of courage to pave your own path, and Reebok’s new campaign truly encourages this ideology. The ‘I am the New’ campaign perfectly depicts our shared belief in breaking barriers and creating your own unique identity, be it in movies or real life. I’m proud to be a part of this movement and look forward to a thrilling journey with the brand.”
As Reebok and ABFRL kick-start this new chapter in their journey, with a string of exciting collaborations that follow in the coming months, the ‘I am the New’ campaign represents a powerful and emotional call to action for young people across India. It’s time to break free from limitations, embrace your unique identity, and become the best version of yourself.
JioCinema, the Official Digital Streaming Partner of TATA IPL 2023, continues to set global benchmarks in the world of digital sports viewing as it clocked over 1300 Cr. video views in the first five weeks. Viewers were glued to JioCinema’s fan-centric presentation as the average time spent per viewer per match touched 60 minutes. TATA IPL 2023 on Connected TV reached twice the number of viewers than that on HD TV.
“JioCinema continues to grow from strength to strength every week and it is based on clear evidence of consumer’s outright preference of catching the TATA IPL on digital,” said Viacom18 Sports CEO Anil Jayaraj. “The combination of outstanding cricket action and our robust platform proved the stellar opening weekend was just the beginning of bigger things to come. I would like to thank all our sponsors, advertisers, and partners for showing faith in our journey as we continue to elevate every fan’s TATA IPL viewing experience.”
JioCinema breached the peak concurrency records of TATA IPL twice in a span of five days. On April 12th, they clocked a 2.23 Cr. peak during the Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals match. Five days later, during Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings fixture, JioCinema broke the record again with a concurrency of 2.4 Cr.
After the unprecedented response to date, JioCinema released 360-degree viewing feature to delight fans, showcasing the power of immersive fan engagement on digital. Viewers have enjoyed the unique language feeds including Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Marathi, and Gujarati and digital-only features like Multi-cam, 4K, Hype Mode, and have revelled in exciting, action-packed and exclusive content including highlights, top player interviews including Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Faf Du Plessis, Rashid Khan, David Miller through partnerships with top IPL teams.
The number of advertisers on JioCinema who have signed up is also a new record as is the revenue booked, both significantly higher than last year on digital. The list of brands joining the digital bandwagon is expected to grow further.
JioCinema has 26 top brands partnering for their digital streaming of TATA IPL 2023, including (Co-Presenting Sponsor) Dream11, (Co-Powered) JioMart, PhonePe, Tiago EV, Jio (Associate Sponsor) Appy Fizz, ET Money, Castrol, TVS, Oreo, Bingo, Sting, AJIO, Haier, RuPay, Louis Philippe Jeans, Amazon, Rapido, Ultra Tech Cement, Puma, Kamla Pasand, Kingfisher Power Soda, Jindal Panther TMT Rebar, Saudi Tourism, Spotify and AMFI.
Defending champions Gujarat Titans, five-time champion Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Capitals announced exclusive partnerships with JioCinema in the lead-up to the 2023 edition. Global cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, India’s most-celebrated cricket captain and four-time IPL winner MS Dhoni, World no. 1 T20 batsman Suryakumar Yadav and India Women’s team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana joined hands with JioCinema to amplify their world-class, digital-first TATA IPL presentation.
