MAM
NBA Player Jerseys available in India at adidas stores
MUMBAI:For the first time, National Basketball Association (NBA) jerseys will be available to basketball fans in India at adidas stores across the country.
The initial collection will include jerseys featuring eigningtwo-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, five-time NBA Champion Kobe Bryant of the reigning two-time NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James of the Miami Heat, and 2008 NBA Champion Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, with additional jerseys to follow.
In addition to jerseys, adidas, the official outfitter of the NBA, will launch the widest range of NBA performance and lifestyle merchandise ever in India.
The first two NBA shops opened within adidas stores in India in August 2010. Following their success, as well as the slowly growing popularity of basketball in the country, 200 new adidas locations will carry the new collection of NBA merchandise as part of the adidas Spring Summer 2011 Collection.
The new NBA collection from adidas is designed to capture the style and persona of NBA players on the court and the latest casual wear designs off the court. The line will include apparel, accessories and the latest in footwear, as well as colorful tees, large graphics and youthful designs showcasing top NBA teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics.
The NBA collection ranges from Rs 999 to Rs. 4,499 and will be available at all adidas Sports Performance Centers across the country.
The launch follows visits from several NBA All-Stars who helped generate more demand for NBA merchandise in India. Nearly 15 NBA players and legends have traveled to India over the last few years to conduct a variety of basketball activities including Howard, Garnett, and two-time NBA Champion Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers.
adidas India Director of Sales and Marketing Tushar Goculdas said, “Basketball is growing rapidly in India and the sport is already quite popular amongst high school and college kids in major metros. Being a leading sportswear brand and market leader in basketball in India, adidas‘ endeavor is to promote the game and provide our consumers innovative and exciting sportswear. We are leveraging our exclusive global partnership to bring the NBA closer to fans in India. This season, basketball enthusiasts can enjoy official licensed NBA jerseys of their favorite players and a wide and vibrant range of other NBA merchandise.
NBA India senior director of development Akash Jain said, “The NBA and Adidas share a long-term commitment to grow basketball globally and are encouraged by the tremendous amount of untapped potential we see in India. NBA fans in India are passionate about their favorite teams and players, and through Adidas’ extensive retail network we will make available the largest selection of NBA performance and lifestyle merchandise ever in the country.”
Brands
Nodwin Gaming appoints Sonal Varma as global director of live events
Former Comic Con India VP to scale global gaming and pop culture experiences
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has appointed Sonal Varma as global director of live events, bringing on board a seasoned architect of fan communities as the company accelerates its global push in gaming, esports and youth culture.
Varma steps into the role with more than 15 years of experience creating large-scale fan experiences and cultural platforms. She is best known for her long stint at Comic Con India, where she most recently served as vice president and helped transform the convention into one of the country’s most recognisable pop culture gatherings.
At Nodwin Gaming, Varma will lead the strategy, design and execution of the company’s global live event initiatives. Her mandate includes expanding flagship intellectual properties and developing new formats that bring gaming communities together across emerging markets.
Over the years, Varma has been closely associated with building and scaling community-led events such as Comic Con India, Geekly and the Indian Cosplay Championship. Her work has focused on turning niche fandoms into thriving cultural ecosystems by blending entertainment, creator culture and brand partnerships.
Her appointment comes at a time when Nodwin Gaming is expanding its international events footprint through properties such as DreamHack India, NH7 Weekender, Comic Con India and the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series. The company has also been growing its presence across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa through esports tournaments, gaming festivals and fan conventions.
Nodwin Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee, said Varma’s experience in building fan-centric platforms would play a key role in the company’s next phase of growth.
“Sonal brings a deep understanding of how live experiences can bring communities together around gaming and pop culture. As we expand our global live events footprint, her experience will help us create experiences that feel authentic and meaningful for audiences across markets,” he said.
Varma said the scale of opportunity at Nodwin Gaming made the move particularly exciting.
“Joining Nodwin Gaming at this moment feels incredibly exciting because the canvas is so large. There are new audiences, new markets and new formats waiting to be explored. I’m looking forward to working with teams across the network to create live experiences that celebrate gaming culture while staying rooted in the communities that power it,” she said.
Over the past few years, Nodwin Gaming has built an ecosystem that stretches across competitive gaming, creator communities, music festivals and youth culture platforms. With Varma now leading global live events, the company is looking to further expand its flagship properties while experimenting with new formats that blend gaming, entertainment and fandom for audiences around the world.
