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ONGC & YES Bank bag FICCI awards as best sports promoters in public & private sector
NEW DELHI: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and YES Bank have been lauded as the best companies for promotion of sports in the public and private sectors.
The India Sports Awards 2015 were given away here at the conclusion of ‘Turf 2015-16’ organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) with the support of the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry.
Technology Frontiers (India) was awarded as the best professional services company and STAIRS was lauded as best NGO Promoting Sports.
HotFut Sports Infrastructure was recognised as the best sports start-up.
The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India was awarded as Best National Sports Federation, Lalita Shivaji Babar (Athletics) got the Sports Person of the Year award and Dipa Karmakar (Gymnastics) got the Breakthrough Sports Person of the Year:
The jury comprised Justice Mukul Mudgal (Retd.) who had headed the Supreme Court Probe Panel on IPL match fixing scandal; Star India’s Deepak Jacob; and Charu Sharma; Bhupesh Kumar, apart from Rajpal Singh of FICCI.
The other awards were:
Coach or Support Staff of the Year: Kuldeep Handoo (Wushu)
Best State: Gujarat
Lifetime Achievement Award: Balbir Singh
Special Recognition:
Company Promoting Sports (Public Sector): Delhi Development Authority
Company Promoting Sports (Private Sector): Infinity Optimal Solutions Pvt Ltd (IOS)
Professional Services Company: India On Track
NGO Promoting Sports: Sports Coaching Foundation
Sports Start-up: Athletto
National Sports Federation: Rowing Federation Of India
Breakthrough Sports Person of the Year: Dattu Bhokanal (Rowing)
Coach or Support Staff of the Year: Bishweshwar Nandi (Gymnastics)
State: Manipur
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Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
