Sports
Gujarat Giants bring in the ‘Chanakya of Kabaddi’ to chase a PKL title
Randhir Singh Sehrawat, one of the most decorated coaches in the league’s history, takes charge ahead of the 2026 season
GUJARAT: Gujarat Giants mean business. Adani Sportsline has appointed Randhir Singh Sehrawat as head coach of the franchise ahead of the upcoming Pro Kabaddi League season, bringing in one of the sport’s most experienced tactical minds to end the team’s wait for a championship.
Sehrawat is no stranger to the PKL. The Arjuna Award recipient has been associated with the league since its founding in 2014, and his credentials are formidable: a PKL title in Season 6 and six playoff appearances during his coaching career. Away from the franchise circuit, he also led the Indian Railways Kabaddi Team, steering both the men’s and women’s sides to multiple national championship titles.
As a player, Sehrawat represented India at the highest level, competing in the Asian Kabaddi Championship in 1988, the South Asian Games in 1989, and the 1990 Asian Games, where he served as vice-captain of the gold medal-winning Indian team.
Sehrawat was characteristically direct about his ambitions. “Gujarat Giants has a strong mix of young talent and experienced players, and I look forward to working with the team as we aim for the title,” he said.
Sanjay Adesara, chief business officer of Adani Sportsline, was equally bullish, saying Sehrawat’s “deep understanding of the sport will be invaluable in developing the squad.”
The bar is set by Dabang Delhi KC, who were crowned PKL Season 12 champions after a thrilling 31-28 victory over Puneri Paltan. It was their second title, with Fazel Atrachali cementing his place as the most successful foreigner in PKL history along the way.
The Chanakya has his assignment. Now he must deliver.
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.
