MAM
Lokmat MahaGames crowns young champions at Pune finale
PUNE: The cheers were loud, the smiles wider and the ambitions unmistakable as Lokmat MahaGames wrapped up its state-level finale in Pune, celebrating the sporting spark of schoolchildren from across Maharashtra.
Held at The Ritz-Carlton, the awards ceremony brought together students, educators and sporting mentors to honour the champions of Maharashtra’s largest inter-school multi-sport competition. Padma bhushan awardee and Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal, brand ambassador of Lokmat MahaGames, led the celebrations by presenting gold medals and trophies to the young winners.
Organised by Lokmat Campus Club and presented by the Abhay Bhutada Foundation, Lokmat MahaGames has steadily grown into a flagship platform for identifying and nurturing sporting talent at the grassroots. This season saw over 50,000 students from more than 2,500 schools compete across 12 regions, before the tournament culminated in Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The evening also saw the presence of Vijay Darda, chairman of Lokmat Media Group and former Rajya Sabha MP; Ruchira Darda, director of Lokmat Campus Club and founder of MahaGames; and Trupti Abhay Bhutada, co-founder of the Abhay Bhutada Foundation. RJ Mantra kept the mood lively, hosting the ceremony and steering an engaging conversation with the dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Vijay Darda said the young athletes represented the future of Indian sport. He underlined the need to keep sports focused on talent, discipline and dedication, free from distractions, and described MahaGames as Lokmat’s continued commitment to nurturing the next generation of champions.
Ruchira Darda highlighted how MahaGames has encouraged children to step onto the field and discover their potential. She said the initiative aims to give future Olympic hopefuls the chance to test their skills early and build confidence through competition.
Trupti Abhay Bhutada spoke about the wider impact of sport, calling it an investment in a healthier and more disciplined generation. She said the foundation was proud to support a platform that allows children from across Maharashtra to compete, grow and dream big.
Saina Nehwal, interacting warmly with the students, stressed the importance of discipline and consistency, both in sport and in life. She also spoke about the role parents play in helping children stay focused and balanced in an age of constant digital distraction.
Beyond medals and speeches, the event had its share of memorable moments. Nehwal signed autographs, posed for photographs and even rallied with a few gold medallists on court, leaving the young athletes visibly inspired.
The tournament featured 12 sports disciplines, including badminton, football, athletics, swimming, chess, table tennis, kho-kho, fencing and archery. Schools with the highest medal tallies were rewarded with cash prizes, with the top three schools receiving Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh respectively.
As the curtains fell on this year’s edition, Lokmat MahaGames once again proved that when opportunity meets enthusiasm, the results can be both powerful and promising.
Brands
Hyundai launches updated Ioniq 5 with 84 kWh battery, 690 km range
Priced at Rs 55.7 lakh, adds design, tech and safety upgrades.
MUMBAI: Charge it up, stretch it out, Hyundai’s latest electric upgrade is going the distance, quite literally. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has introduced an updated version of its Ioniq 5, packing in a larger 84.0 kWh battery that delivers a claimed range of up to 690 km (ARAI-certified), marking a significant leap in everyday usability for its flagship electric SUV.
Built on Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the refreshed IONIQ 5 aims to balance performance with practicality, reducing range anxiety while making long-distance electric travel more viable. The upgrade builds on a model that has already secured global recognition, including the World Car of the Year title.
The changes aren’t just under the skin. On the outside, the SUV gets a sharper, more futuristic look with redesigned front and rear bumpers, new skid plates, sporty alloy wheels, a revised rear spoiler and updated V-garnish lighting, all while retaining its signature Parametric Pixel design.
Inside, Hyundai has focused on making the experience more intuitive. The cabin now features a redesigned three-spoke steering wheel with illuminated pixel elements, dual 12.3-inch displays, and a reworked wireless charging pad integrated with physical controls for seat functions small tweaks that aim to improve day-to-day usability.
On the tech front, the IONIQ 5 gets Hyundai’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC), Controller Over-the-Air (C-OTA) updates, and now supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. New additions such as Active Sound Design and in-car payment integration for EV charging reflect a push towards a more seamless, connected ownership experience. Remote immobilisation via Bluelink has also been introduced as an added security layer.
Safety sees incremental upgrades too, with features like Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (Rear) and side parking distance warnings enhancing manoeuvrability in tight urban spaces.
The updated IONIQ 5 is available in four colour options Gravity Gold Matte, Midnight Black Pearl, Titan Grey and Optic White with an Obsidian Black interior theme.
Priced at Rs 55.7 lakh (ex-showroom), the new IONIQ 5 positions itself as a more rounded offering, less about futuristic promise, and more about making electric mobility fit seamlessly into everyday life.
