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Pokémon celebrates partnership with Mumbai Indians
Mumbai: Pokémon, the globally popular entertainment brand, has become an official partner of the Mumbai Indians for the 2024 season, in an unexpected tie-up between sports and entertainment. Pikachu, the most well-known and loved Pokémon, has been present at the Pokémon booth in the Wankhede stadium to show support for the team and interact with visitors at the venue.
The Pokémon booth has welcomed more than 34,000 visitors over the four home games held so far. Fans enjoyed meeting Pikachu, taking pictures around the booth, and receiving some exclusive freebies designed specifically for the event showing Pikachu wearing the Mumbai Indians jersey. Pikachu will continue to make an appearance at the booth for the remaining three home matches as well.
The Pokémon company corporate officer Susumu Fukunaga said, “Cricket is the most popular sport in India and getting a chance to showcase Pokémon at the famous Wankhede Stadium in collaboration with the Mumbai Indians has enabled us to highlight Pokémon’s presence to a wide variety of audience. This is a one-of-a-kind collaboration for us. We are delighted to see the excitement and smiles on visitors’ faces when they meet Pikachu and receive the free goodies.”
A Mumbai Indians spokesperson said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Pokémon as a partner of the Mumbai Indians Family, providing them with a platform to connect and celebrate the shared passion that both MI and our paltan have for cricket and Pokémon.”
To celebrate the partnership, The Pokémon Company announced plans to hold two Instagram campaigns in which participants who follow their account (@_pokemonofficialindia), leave a comment and tag their friends stand a chance to win tickets to one of the remaining home matches or special MI-design jerseys.
The “Match Ticket Giveaway” campaign will be held from April 18 to 22 in which tickets to the remaining three Mumbai Indians matches will be up for grabs. Three lucky winners (one for each match) from all the participants who meet campaign regulations will receive five tickets each. The “Mumbai Indians Jersey Giveaway” campaign will run from April 25 to May 13. Three participants who meet all campaign regulations will win a Mumbai Indians Jersey each. Details of the campaigns are available on Pokémon India’s official website.
Pokémon and Mumbai Indians also plan to share a few videos on their Instagram accounts showing fun interactions between members of the team and Pikachu. People can enjoy the heartwarming content by tuning in to @mumbaiindians, @_pokemonofficialindia, #MumbaiIndians, #Pokemon, #PokemonIndia and #PikachuWithMumbaiIndians.
Fans of both Mumbai Indians and Pokémon have been expressing their surprise and delight ever since the partnership was announced. They have much to look forward to, with three more matches to go and fun content lined up.
Match schedule:
Friday, May 3, 7:30 p.m. – Mumbai Indians vs. Kolkata Knight Riders
Monday, May 6, 7:30 p.m. – Mumbai Indians vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad
Friday, May 17, 7:30 p.m. – Mumbai Indians vs. Lucknow Super Giants
The Pokémon Company hopes that apart from visiting the Pokémon booth at the Wankhede stadium, people will actively participate in the Instagram campaigns and enjoy the collaboration in the digital space as well.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
