MAM
Breaking new ground undisputed spins into India with Delhi qualifier
MUMBAI: If breaking is about making a statement without saying a word, India has just dropped a loud one. The globally respected Undisputed Breaking Championship is set to make its India debut with the Fujifilm instax Undisputed Breaking Championship India Qualifier, scheduled for January 31, 2026, in New Delhi. The event places India firmly on the official Undisputed circuit, with the Delhi stop acting as a qualifying gateway to the World Final in Tokyo on March 21, 2026.
Part of a championship series that has already toured major global cities, the India qualifier will see the country’s top breakers go head-to-head with international talent across Solo Women, Solo Men and Crew (5vs5) categories. Winners in each category will earn a direct invitation to Tokyo, marking a rare opportunity for Indian breakers to compete within breaking’s most structured and prestigious global framework.
The Delhi line-up blends local dominance with Olympic pedigree. Among the confirmed names are Bboy Flying Machine, a six-time Indian champion, Bgirl India, a three-time world champion and Paris 2024 Olympics athlete, BBoy Quake of Chinese Taipei, also a Paris Olympian, along with Japanese standouts Bboy Ryoga and Bgirl Yuina, and France’s BGirl Mia. More national and international participants are expected to be announced closer to the event, underscoring the qualifier’s competitive weight.
For the global breaking community, India’s inclusion reflects a shift that has been years in the making. As breaking continues its evolution from street culture to structured sport, India’s growing pool of dancers, crews and cypher communities is increasingly impossible to ignore. The Delhi qualifier is designed to showcase that depth, while adhering to Undisputed’s global judging standards and competitive format.
Speaking on the occasion, Fujifilm India managing director Koji Wada noted that India’s youth-driven creative ecosystem is emerging as a meaningful contributor to global street and breaking culture. He said the decision to bring Undisputed to India reflects both that momentum and the country’s growing importance as a strategic cultural market.
Fujifilm India associate director and head of electronic imaging, instax and optical devices business Arun Babu added that the India qualifier has been designed as an open and inclusive platform. With participation open to solo breakers and crews across experience levels, the focus is on grassroots access, structured competition and community-building, aligned with instax ’s philosophy of connection and self-expression.
Beyond the battles, the event is positioned as a full-spectrum celebration of breaking and hip-hop culture, bringing together music, movement and community in a public, accessible setting. The championship will be held at Worldmark 1 Aerocity, with free entry for spectators, making it one of the most accessible global qualifying events on the undisputed calendar.
Registrations for solo dancers and crews are currently open via and8.dance. For India’s breaking community, January 31 is more than a competition date. It is a chance to turn local reputation into global recognition, one power move at a time.
Brands
33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
