MAM
PUMA India partners with Indian Olympic Association
Mumbai: Sports brand PUMA India has announced its partnership with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as their official footwear partner for the Indian contingent to the Paris Olympics and also launched a mega outdoor campaign to celebrate the champions of the game.
Over 100 Indian athletes, as part of this partnership, will receive podium and travel footwear, trolleys, backpacks, sippers, yoga mats, headbands, wristbands, socks and towels, designed to maximise their training and comfort during the 2024 Summer Olympics. To add, 45 out of the 100 plus Indian athletes across sporting disciplines comprise the PUMA contingent at the Paris Olympics, making the largest squad representing a brand in the country this year.
PUMA India MD Karthik Balagopalan shared his perspective on this collaboration and campaign launch, stating, “PUMA is dedicated to empowering athletes to surpass their limits and achieve their full potential. Through our partnership with the Indian Olympic Association, we will provide athletes with best in-class footwear and sports accessories, aiming to support their pursuit of excellence at the Paris Olympics. Additionally, we aim to bring to the fore and recognize the milestones achieved by athletes of our country through this campaign. I hope our efforts to celebrate our champions will not only inspire others to give their best but also encourage many young and aspiring athletes to take up Olympic sports in India.”
This strategic partnership with the IOA, the governing body of Olympics in India, not only affirms PUMA’s commitment to cultivating a vibrant sports culture but also serves as a catalyst for nurturing the growth, progress, and achievements of both current and upcoming generations of athletes in the country.
“Our partnership with PUMA is pivotal in our mission to elevate the capabilities of our athletes. Equipped with PUMA’s top-quality shoes and accessories, our athletes will be primed to compete at the highest level. The IOA is deeply committed to enhancing India’s medal prospects at the Paris Olympics, and such collaborations are a crucial step towards achieving that goal,” said Indian Olympic Association president and renowned former track-and-field athlete Dr PT Usha.
Titled “See the Game Like We Do”, PUMA India’s campaign celebrates double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu’s powerful smash, Olympic bronze medalist and hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh’s ability to stop the fastest balls with ease with a series of larger-than-life outdoor spectacles across Mumbai, as it shows Asian Games medalist Kishore Jena’s throw, equivalent to the height of a skyscraper. The campaign by PUMA comes to capture the attention of the country to the superhuman feats of our Indian contingent and their extraordinary dedication, igniting national pride as the athletes head to Paris to achieve the country’s highest glory.
1 PV Sindhu’s speed of a smash at 349 kmph is three times the speed of Mumbai’s iconic Central Line route. Her exemplary achievement is visualized across the coaches with imagery splashed across coaches of the local train on this route, starting today.
2 Kishore Jena’s best throw at 87.54 meters, equivalent to the height of a skyscraper, is commemorated by his towering image on the façade of a similar sized structure in Prabhadevi, Mumbai.
3 Hockey champ PR Sreejesh lightning-fast reflexes and the ability to stop the fastest balls with ease is about 0.15 seconds, which is quicker than a blink. This powerful parallel is illustrated on a digital billboard on the eastern express highway (EEH) serving the cities of Mumbai and Thane.
By drawing parallels between these record-breaking achievements and common everyday experiences, PUMA aims to inspire the country to take note of the Indian Olympic athletes’ relentless pursuit towards excellence and trailblazing accomplishments.
“PUMA is proud to be at the forefront when it comes to empowering Indian athletes and celebrating their achievements. This campaign honours the hard work and dedication of our champion players as we stand united in support of them while they take on the world stage. Together, let’s celebrate their journey to success,” said PUMA India associate director & head of marketing Shreya Sachdev.
Javelin champ and PUMA ambassador Kishore Jena said, “Support from the fans always plays a critical role for athletes in big tournaments, and it’s heartening to see a global brand like PUMA come forward with this amazing campaign to unite the whole nation, encouraging Indian athletes as we chase Olympic glory. I’m confident that high-quality footwear and sports accessories will help us to produce our best show in Paris, leaving no stone unturned.”
PUMA athletes such as Javelin champ Kishore Jena, professional sport shooter Sift Kaur Samra and equestrian Anush Agarwalla will be experiencing the same world-class gears that propelled legendary Olympics medalists in the past such as Usain Bolt, Merlene Ottey, Shericka Jackson, Heike Drechsler, and many others.
Professional sport shooter and Paris qualified Sift Kaur Samra said, “I understand that sports demand both physical and mental strength, especially at events like the Olympics where focus is crucial. Having world-class products gives confidence and positively influences performances. PUMA has been trusted by champion athletes worldwide, and I’m thrilled that they’re supporting Indian athletes’ Paris 2024 dream.”
PUMA has established associations with various sports teams, including renowned global and Indian football clubs such as Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Mumbai City FC, and Bengaluru FC, alongside IPL teams such as Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals. Additionally, the brand showcases a roster of distinguished brand ambassadors including cricket icon Virat Kohli, sprinting champion Usain Bolt, football star Neymar Jr, boxing champ MC Mary Kom and cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur and Mohammed Shami.
Brands
Maruti Suzuki posts record FY26 profit of Rs 14,445 crore, dividend at Rs 140
Sales hit 24.22 lakh units as Q4 revenue crosses Rs 50,000 crore mark
NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki India Limited reported its highest-ever annual performance for FY2025-26, with record sales volumes, revenue and profit, alongside a dividend of Rs 140 per share.
The company posted net sales of Rs 1,74,369.5 crore for the full year, marking a 20.2 per cent increase over FY2024-25. Net profit stood at an all-time high of Rs 14,445.4 crore, up slightly from Rs 14,297.6 crore in the previous year.
Total sales for the year reached 24,22,713 units, compared to 22,34,266 units last year. Domestic sales accounted for 19,74,939 units, while exports rose sharply to 4,47,774 units from 3,32,585 units a year earlier. The company retained its position as India’s top passenger vehicle exporter for the fifth consecutive year, contributing 49 per cent of total exports.
Exports of the made-in-India e VITARA, the company’s first battery electric vehicle, expanded to 44 countries, highlighting its growing global footprint.
In the January to March quarter, Maruti Suzuki recorded its highest-ever quarterly sales of 6,76,209 units, an increase of 11.8 per cent year-on-year. Domestic sales stood at 5,38,994 units, while exports touched a record 1,37,215 units.
Quarterly net sales crossed the Rs 50,000 crore milestone for the first time, reaching Rs 50,078.7 crore, up from Rs 38,839.1 crore in the same quarter last year.
Operating profit, measured as EBIT, rose 30.4 per cent to Rs 4,409.2 crore, reflecting improved operating efficiency. However, net profit declined 6.9 per cent year-on-year to Rs 3,590.5 crore, primarily due to mark-to-market impacts.
The company said growth in the second half of the year was supported by a reduction in GST rates, which boosted demand in the domestic market. However, production constraints remained a challenge, with around 1,90,000 pending customer orders at the end of the year, including nearly 1,30,000 in the small car segment. Dealer inventory levels were also low, at about 12 days of stock.
During the year, Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited was amalgamated into the parent company, effective 1 December 2025, with financials restated from 1 April 2025 for comparability.
The board recommended a dividend of Rs 140 per share, up from Rs 135 in FY2024-25, marking the highest payout in the company’s history.
With strong export momentum, improving domestic demand and continued capacity constraints, Maruti Suzuki enters FY27 balancing growth opportunities with supply-side challenges, even as it strengthens its position in both conventional and electric vehicle segments.
