MAM
PKL: sponsors adding up even as matches start
MUMBAI: Pro-Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 5 has begun and is still seeing a lot of interest from the brands. PKL already has six sponsors and three partners which includes Vivo — the title sponsor. The latest entrant is Manyavar as an on-ground sponsor.
The sponsorship for PKL Season 5 has increased by 12 per cent as compared to the sponsorship for Season 4, which was 59 per cent. On-ground sponsorship in 2015 and 2016 for PKL was Rs 480 million and Rs 1.23 billion, respectively.
Vivo reportedly signed a Rs 3 billion deal for five years with the league. Associate sponsors — Gillette, TVS Motors, Association of Mutual Funds of India, Bajaj Electricals, Indo Nissin, RR Kabel and Manyavar have paid around Rs 120-150 million each, according to industry sources.
Star India EVP Anil Jayaraj said, “Kabaddi has been clearly established as the number two sport in India after cricket.” With 10-second spots selling at an average of Rs 1.5 lakh, media buyers said that the rates are just lower than the Indian Premier League as far as sports events are concerned.
Each match has around 3,000 seconds of inventory, and with more than 50 per cent of the inventory sold, Star India is “already in a good place.” PKL’s sponsorship revenue is up by 320 per cent from a “battery of new advertisers,” with 12 teams competing for Rs 80 million worth of prize money.
Also Read :
Star India’s PKL 5 telecast via 12 channels in five languages starts today
How brands are reaching out to wide PKL audience
PKL 5 advertisers grow three-fold, sponsorships rise 320%
Pro Kabaddi: Mashal Sports invites tenders to own & manage new team
MAM
Delhivery appoints Neelam Dhawan as Chairperson
Tech veteran succeeds Deepak Kapoor effective 1 April 2026.
MUMBAI: Neelam Dhawan just took the driver’s seat at Delhivery because when logistics needs sharper direction, even the board calls in a Microsoft-level navigator. Delhivery has appointed Neelam Dhawan as non-executive independent director effective 20 March 2026, with her elevation to chairperson of the Board from 1 April 2026. She succeeds Deepak Kapoor, who steps down after more than eight years, as disclosed in the company’s regulatory filing on 31 January 2026.
Dhawan brings over three decades of leadership in technology, having served as managing director at HP India Sales, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise India and Microsoft India. A graduate in Economics from St. Stephen’s College and an MBA from FMS, Delhi University, she is recognised by Fortune, Forbes and Business Today as one of the ‘Most Powerful Women in Business’. She has shaped India’s IT sector, served on the NASSCOM Executive Council (2009–2017) and is a strong advocate for workplace diversity and STEM education for girls.
She currently serves as independent director on the boards of Hindustan Unilever, Tech Mahindra, Ather Energy, Fractal Analytics, Capillary Technologies India and Capita PLC, and as a director at Nudge Lifeskills Foundation.
Delhivery, MD & CEO Sahil Barua said, “We are delighted to welcome Neelam Dhawan to the Delhivery Board as our Chairperson. Her exceptional track record in leading some of the world’s most iconic technology companies, as well as her diverse set of experiences as a seasoned Board Member will be invaluable as Delhivery continues to scale its technology-led logistics platform.”
In a logistics world where speed and strategy must race in sync, Delhivery isn’t just adding a chairperson, it’s bringing aboard a proven leader who knows how to steer complex tech ecosystems through growth lanes and beyond.
