MAM
India’s ace badminton player, Kidambi Srikanth signs a 35-crore 4-year deal with global Chinese brand, Li-Ning
MUMBAI: India’s ace shuttler, Former World no. 1 Men's badminton player, Kidambi Srikanth signed a 35-crore deal with Asia's premium sports brand, Li-Ning. The deal which is valued at Rs. 35 crores for a period of 4 years, will comprise of sponsorship & equipment supply. India’s only male World No.1 badminton player, Srikanth is also the only Indian badminton player to have won 6 Super Series badminton event which no other Indian badminton player has achieved till now.
Li Ning Company Limited is one of the leading sports brand companies in China, mainly providing sporting goods including footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for professional and leisure purposes primarily under the LI-NING brand.
Sunlight Sports Pte Ltd is a multi-national exclusive partner of Li-Ning in India, South East Asia, Australia/New Zealand & also manages world renowned brands; McDavid, Shock Doctor, Kason and DHS.
Mr. Mahender Kapoor, Director, Sunlight Sports Pte Ltd said “Srikanth is among the top Badminton players in the world & already the most accomplished Indian Male Badminton player & a World No1 player. Li Ning stands for quality & consistency and Srikanth fits the bill perfectly. We want to play our part in helping Srikanth achieve a lot more going forward.”
Kidambi Srikanth ecstatically commented, “I am honored to be the face of Li Ning in India & globally. I love their products & I’m really looking forward to stepping on the court with a renewed vigor to accomplish few more goals that I have set for myself & keep bring laurels for my country.”
Srikanth is exclusively managed by India’s leading sports marketing firm Baseline Ventures which was instrumental in getting the tie up in place.
Tuhin Mishra, Managing Director, Baseline Ventures said “We were really impressed with the road map & vision of the brand Li Ning for Srikanth & the team handling Li Ning is completely hands-on & dynamic which is so important for a top athlete like Srikanth. We look forward to a great association over the next 4 years”
Li-Ning has been supporting the team China, Indonesia, Singapore and Australia for badminton and was the official sponsor of the Indian contingent at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. Li-Ning is also currently Team India's official apparel partner till the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo where Srikanth will be one of the foremost Olympic medal contender hopes for India.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
