Brands
Sania serves up a bold shot with Boldfit as athlete, investor, and designer
MUMBAI: When Sania Mirza picks up a racket, history follows. Now, the six-time Grand Slam champion is turning her legendary forehand toward the boardroom, joining Boldfit not just as an athlete, but also as an investor and co-creator of its newest range of tennis rackets and pickleball paddles.
The Bengaluru-headquartered sports and fitness brand, founded in 2018, has built its name on high-performance apparel, footwear, and equipment. With Sania on board, Boldfit is swinging into racket sports with fresh ambition, aiming to make tennis and pickleball more accessible to India’s 1.4 billion-strong sporting population.
“Pickleball is exploding across all age groups, while tennis has always been my first love,” Sania said. “Partnering with Boldfit lets me bring my years of experience into designing gear that’s lighter, durable, and truly built for Indian players. My hope is to inspire more people to pick up a racket and fall in love with these sports.”
Boldfit’s “Boldfit Athlete” roster already boasts names like cricketer KL Rahul, and Sania’s addition signals its intent to become a multi-sport powerhouse. Rahul summed it up: “Her joining Boldfit goes beyond equipment, it’s about inspiring millions to embrace sport as part of life itself.”
The tie-up also puts pickleball, the world’s fastest-growing sport firmly in Boldfit’s sights. By developing performance-driven paddles alongside Sania, the brand hopes to capitalise on the sport’s surging popularity, supported by new courts and a growing community.
For Boldfit founder and CEO Pallav Bihani the partnership reflects the company’s broader mission. “Sania isn’t done making history, and we’re thrilled she’s starting this bold chapter with us,” he said. “This is about giving aspiring Indian players access to products designed with the insight of a legend.”
With tennis, table tennis, pickleball, and cricket already in its portfolio, Boldfit is steadily cementing its reputation as the sporting glue of modern India. And with Sania’s backing, the brand seems set to rally an entire generation toward sport as lifestyle not just pastime.
Brands
Maharashtra panel orders Lodha to refund Rs 5 crore to homebuyers
Consumer court flags unfair practices in long-running property dispute case
MUMBAI: In a sharp rebuke to one of India’s biggest real estate players, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Macrotech Developers to refund nearly Rs 5 crore to a senior citizen couple, Uttam and Anindita Chatterjee. The ruling, delivered on March 13, 2026, calls out the developer for “deficiency in service” and “unfair trade practices”, bringing closure to a dispute that has stretched over a decade.
The case traces back to 2015, when the couple booked a 3-BHK flat at World Towers in Lower Parel for Rs 12.22 crore, with possession promised within a year. What followed was a series of changes that complicated matters. After deciding to exit the project, they were persuaded to shift to a 4-BHK in another development priced at Rs 8 crore, with delivery scheduled for 2018. However, within months, the price was allegedly increased to Rs 10 crore. After demonetisation reshaped the market, similar flats were reportedly being offered at lower prices, but the couple were not given the benefit.
Despite paying over Rs 2.83 crore, the couple neither received possession nor clarity. Instead, in 2018, the developer unilaterally cancelled the booking, retained part of the amount as earnest money, and argued that the buyers were investors rather than consumers. The commission rejected this claim, observing that casual references to “investment” do not take away consumer rights when the purchase intent is residential.
The bench also held that the developer could not penalise buyers for payment delays while failing to meet its own delivery commitments. It noted the lack of formal documentation for revised terms and termed the prolonged retention of funds without delivering a home as exploitative.
As part of its order, the commission directed the developer to refund Rs 2.83 crore paid by the couple, along with interest at 10 per cent per annum, amounting to around Rs 2.12 crore. In addition, Rs 1 lakh has been awarded for mental agony and Rs 50,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total payout to over Rs 5 crore. The developer has been asked to comply within two months.
For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that in real estate, shifting terms and delayed promises can carry a significant cost.
