Sports
KKR names Disha Eye Hospitals official vision partner
Three-time IPL champions partner with Kolkata-based chain for 2026 season.
MUMBAI: KKR just found the perfect partner to keep their vision sharp because when you’re chasing another IPL title, even the eyes need a champion behind them. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), three-time IPL winners, have announced Disha Eye Hospitals as their official vision partner for the 2026 Indian Premier League season. The collaboration unites the cricket franchise with one of East India’s leading ophthalmology chains, which operates 20 branches and has been delivering affordable, world-class eye care since 1997.
Headquartered in Kolkata, Disha Eye Hospitals aligns with KKR’s fan-first ethos and community commitment, aiming to make genuine eye health accessible across the City of Joy and beyond. The partnership reflects shared values of excellence, accessibility and relentless pursuit on the pitch and in patient care.
KKR CEO Venky Mysore said, “This partnership strengthens our commitment to Kolkata’s community through a collaboration rooted in shared values of excellence and accessibility. Our association with Disha Eye Hospitals will enable us to deliver meaningful impact for fans on and off the field.”
Disha Eye Hospitals chairman and managing director Debasish Bhattacharya added, “When we founded Disha Eye Hospitals in 1997, our vision was simple yet profound: to ensure that world-class, affordable eye care is a fundamental right for everyone. Partnering with a champion team like KKR feels like a natural extension of that ethos. KKR represents the passion of Bengal, and Disha represents its care.”
The announcement comes ahead of the 2026 IPL season, where KKR will once again look to defend their legacy while extending their community reach through eye health initiatives. In a tournament where every boundary counts, this partnership proves that clear vision isn’t just for batsmen, it’s for Bengal too.
Sports
SMK becomes first Indian helmet brand in Road to MotoGP championship
Partnership with Moto4 Latin Cup puts the brand on the international racing grid for the first time
NEW DELHI: An Indian helmet maker is stepping onto the global racing grid.
SMK Helmets has partnered the Moto4 Latin Cup as the official technical helmet sponsor, marking the company’s entry into international motorsport. The deal places the brand inside the prestigious Road to MotoGP ecosystem, a global ladder designed to groom young riders for professional circuit racing.
The move makes SMK the first global Indian helmet brand to enter a Road to MotoGP championship, a significant milestone for a company that has built its reputation on helmet engineering and manufacturing.
Riders in the championship will compete wearing SMK’s Titan Carbon Racing helmet, a race-spec model designed specifically for high-speed circuit competition.
The Moto4 Latin Cup forms part of the wider Road to MotoGP programme, which serves as a stepping stone for emerging riders aiming to climb the professional racing ranks. The 2026 season will feature 12 rounds across circuits in Brazil and Argentina, with young riders from across the Americas competing on identical Honda NSF250R race machines.
The championship begins from March 20 to 22 in Goiânia, Brazil, coinciding with the return of the MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix. The series provides a professional platform for young racers to gain experience on international circuits and pursue what organisers call the “road to the dream”.
Backed by more than five decades of helmet manufacturing expertise, SMK is now extending its focus on safety and performance to the demands of the racing grid, where speed and precision leave little room for compromise.
Under the partnership, competing riders will be equipped with the Titan Carbon Racing helmet, built around a lightweight carbon-fibre shell and a race-oriented interior configuration. The helmet is ECE 22.06 certified and engineered to deliver protection, aerodynamic stability and comfort at racing speeds.
The design reflects modern racing priorities, combining lightweight construction, aerodynamic efficiency and rider-focused ergonomics.
The collaboration is also part of SMK’s longer-term strategy to expand its presence in international motorsport while advancing helmet technology through real-world racing insights.
Racing environments generate valuable data on aerodynamics, ventilation, stability and rider comfort at extreme speeds. Feedback from riders competing in the championship will feed directly into SMK’s ongoing helmet development programme.
“Motorsport represents the highest expression of performance, precision and human ambition,” said Shilpa Arora, head of global sales at SMK Helmets.
“For SMK, supporting the Moto4 Latin Cup is more than a sponsorship. It reflects our long-term commitment to rider safety and innovation,” Arora said.
Sidhartha Khurana, managing director and chief executive at SMK, said the company views racing as a crucial testbed for technology.
“As one of the world’s largest helmet manufacturers by volume, with over five decades of expertise, we believe racing plays an important role in advancing helmet technology,” Khurana said.
“These young athletes represent the future of the sport, and we are proud to stand beside them as they pursue their dreams. The insights gained through racing environments will continue to strengthen the technology that ultimately protects riders on roads across the world.”
Manufactured in India and sold across global markets, SMK’s entry into competitive racing also highlights the rising international recognition of Indian helmet engineering.
From factory floors in India to high-speed racing circuits in Latin America, the company is betting that the road to MotoGP can also become a road to global credibility.
