MAM
Seven talented children emerge as the winners of the first edition of the IDBI Federal Quest For Excellence
Mumbai, 21st January, 2019: After receiving thousands of entries from across the country and even internationally, IDBI Federal Life Insurance today announced the names of the seven talented children who have been selected as the winners of the first edition of the IDBI Federal Quest For Excellence #YoungChamps programme. The seven #YoungChamps, who are between the ages of 9-12 years, have been offered the opportunity to undergo full-time residential training for two years at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad which will be fully sponsored by IDBI Federal Life Insurance.
The seven children selected are:
1. Abhinav Garg, Bangalore
2. Naishaa Kaur Bhatoye, Mumbai
3. R. Sphoorty, Hyderabad
4. Sakshi Prakash, Dubai
5. Shanay K. Patel, Ahmedabad
6. Showrya Kiran, Hyderabad
7. Vansh Dev, New Delhi
These talented kids were selected after undergoing rigorous training of two weeks during the summer and winter vacations respectively at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad. During this four-week tenure, Pullela Gopichand and his team of coaches evaluated the kids on the basis of their performance, fitness, attitude, agility, and footwork. Based on this assessment, the children have now been offered the opportunity to undergo full-time residential training at the Academy for a period of two years.
Over the course of the two years, Pullela Gopichand and his team of coaches will work with the kids to improve different aspects of their game and to help them master new skills & techniques. While at the Academy, the kids will also be able to observe and interact with the country’s top national and international players which will further motivate and inspire them.
IDBI Federal Quest for Excellence #YoungChamps programme is India’s first-ever grassroots-level badminton initiative launched in December 2017. The aim of the programme is to promote badminton among the youth and to identify budding badminton players who will be the country’s next champions. In the initial round, over a thousand video entries were received from across India, as well as from Indians settled abroad in countries like Dubai, Singapore and Qatar. Out of these, 26 kids were selected for a day-long intensive evaluation process at the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad. Based on this evaluation process, 14 kids were then selected for four weeks of training at the Academy, from which the eventual seven winners were identified.
Vighnesh Shahane, MD & CEO, IDBI Federal Life Insurance said, “We are delighted to announce the names of the seven children who are the winners of the first edition of the IDBI Federal Quest for Excellence #YoungChamps programme. The aim of this programme is to identify budding talent at the grassroots-level and encourage them to consider badminton as a viable career option. With Gopi and his team guiding them, we hope to see these talented youngsters emerge as the rising stars of tomorrow.”
Pullela Gopichand, Chief National Coach for the Indian Badminton team and Programme Head, IDBI Federal Quest For Excellence said, “It is through initiatives like IDBI Federal Quest For Excellence #YoungChamps programme that we are adding to the growing base of rising badminton stars in our country. I take pride in being associated with this programme and look forward to having these extremely dynamic kids train at the Academy.”
To watch the video on the #YoungChamps winners, click on the below link:
Brands
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.
