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RCB announces flagship sports conference in partnership with leaders in Sport
Mumbai: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with its innovation arm—RCB Innovation Lab, has partnered with Leaders in Sport, the premier global sports events and media organisation, to bring the first-ever Leaders Meet to India, scheduled in Bengaluru on 29 and 30 November.
RCB Innovation Lab is a groundbreaking intersection between sports and business, that aims to generate insights, ideas, methodologies, and products in order to shape the future of sports. Leaders Meet: India aligns seamlessly with RCB Innovation Lab’s mission to further grow sports ecosystem.
The first-of-its-kind summit is set to host a stellar line-up of global sporting leaders who will collectively delve into the convergence of sports, business, technology, and social impact. They will address critical themes and share insights on multi-faceted topics that are not only shaping the sports industry but are also poised to drive the expansion of India’s future sports market.
The event will mark a historic occasion and witness insightful discussions in the presence of prominent figures from the sports world such as BCCI honorary secretary Jay Shah, Will Brass (chief commercial officer of the English Premier League), Ellie Norman (chief communications officer of Manchester United), and Charlotte Burr (director of strategy, corporate development & digital, FIFA). Notably, the summit will also feature the Indian badminton legend Pullela Gopichand, Brendon McCullum (former New Zealand skipper and current head coach of England’s Test team), and Olympic Gold Medal winner and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, Italian International Football icon & World Cup winner 2006 Alessandro Del Piero, G20 Sherpa – India & Ex – CEO of Niti Aayog, Government of India Amitabh Kant among many other notable dignitaries.
Commenting on RCB Innovation Lab bringing leaders meet to India for the first time, Royal Challengers Bangalore vice president & head Rajesh V Menon said, “Growth requires a catalyst; we want to create the perfect conditions for sport and business to thrive – sowing seeds of change through new connections, relationships, opportunities, ideas, and perspectives. We want to make it happen faster by creating optimal conditions – bringing together the very best in the sports industry, both on and off the field. We want to accelerate the process by connecting members of the business & sporting community to the best conversations, the best connections, the best insights, the best solutions, and the best opportunities. I am confident that this confluence of industry stalwarts will help bring out valuable insights and build & engage stakeholders contributing to India in the journey of creating more participants in sports than just spectators”.”
Leaders in Sport has been in existence for 15 years and has served as a catalyst for bringing together the most prominent figures and groundbreaking ideas in the world of sports. With past editions hosted in key cities like New York, Abu Dhabi, London, Los Angeles, Beijing, and Shanghai, Leaders in Sport has been instrumental in facilitating dialogues and propelling the sports industry towards progress. It continues to lead the way in providing the latest sports business intelligence and delivering exclusive perspectives from global industry leaders at the forefront.
Sport managing director and leader Laura McQueen said “We stand on the verge of an exciting new chapter in the world of sports. Leaders Meet is not just an event; it’s a convergence of some of the world’s most influential leaders and a platform to usher in a new era for the sports industry in India and Southeast Asia. At the summit, we will witness catalytic discussions, innovative ideas, and a global perspective on how to shape the future of sports.
We are thrilled to partner with RCB to host this event in India for the first time, and it serves as a testament to our shared vision of unlocking India’s potential as a thriving hub for sports and all verticals in sports, related to business, technology, and social impact. The summit promises to bridge the gap between opportunity and execution, propelling India to the forefront of the global sports landscape.”
Leaders Meet: India will also see the participation of distinguished government administrators including Amitabh Kant, who served as the G20 Sherpa and previously held the role of CEO at Niti Aayog, and R Vineel Krishna, an IAS officer and Special Secretary to Odisha CM & Secretary of Sports and Youth Services in the Odisha Government. These esteemed individuals will engage in discussions and brainstorming sessions covering innovations in sports technology, business, performance, and social impact during the two-day conference.
Below is the detailed list of speakers with their theme of the talk:
1. Jay Shah: Honorary secretary, BCCI; president, ACC; Chair F&CA Committee, ICC
Topic: How the BCCI built the IPL, launched the WPL and what it tells us about the future of cricket and the trajectory of Indian sport
2. Amitabh Kant: G20 Sherpa – India & ex-CEO of Niti Aayog, Government of India
Topic: The Indian growth story, the socio-economic opportunities, and the role for sport
3. Alessandro Del Piero: Italian International Football icon & World Cup winner 2006
Excerpts of one of the most picture-perfect careers, multiple series A league titles, World Cup winner, champions league winner. Reflections of an iconic career and the current changing landscape of football and with emerging markets what is the future trend of football, will Europe still be the premier club football destination in the near future.
4. Dr. R. Vineel Krishna, IAS: Special Secretary to Odisha CM & Secretary – Sports and Youth Services, Odisha Government
Topic: How states can drive sports promotion and development – the Odisha model and the future of public-private partnerships
5. Brendon McCullum: Head Coach, England Test Cricket Team
Topic: Leading transformative change in team environments – what’s gone into Bazball?
6. Neeraj Chopra: Indian Olympic Gold Medallist and World Champion – Javelin
Topic: The journey, reflections and path ahead to create more world champions in India.
7. Abhinav Bindra: Indian Olympic Gold Medallist and 5-time Olympian, Shooting
Topic: The future of the Olympic movement and Olympism in India
8. Pullela Gopichand: All England Badminton Champion and iconic badminton coach
Topic: From also-rans to Champions – reflections on the growth of India as a badminton powerhouse.
9. Charlotte Burr: Director of Strategy, Corporate Development & Digital, FIFA
Topic: The importance of India to football and the importance of football to India
10. Will Brass: Chief Commercial Officer, Premier League
Topic: An insider’s account of the business affairs of the #1 football league in the world and its plans in a high-growth market like India.
11. Ellie Norman: Chief Marketing Officer, Manchester United
Topic: Managing a global fan base and an iconic brand through the ups and downs of sport through strategic marketing, partnerships, content and fan engagement
12. Scott Munn: Chief Football Officer, Tottenham Hotspur
Topic: How to harness and internationalise the power of a legacy fan base in the Indian subcontinent.
13. Mohammad Bobat: Director of Cricket Operations, RCB. Ex-Performance Director: England Men’s Cricket team.
Topic: Managing high-performance environments and translating potential to winning performances in a team filled with star players.
14. Harsh Jain: Co-Founder and CEO, Dream Sports
Topic: Helming the largest fantasy sports platform in the world and reflections on engaging 200m+ users.
15. Nic Coward: World Renowned Sports Advisor and Ex-Gen. Secretary of the Premier League, Ex-CEO of FA, Ex-Consultant FIFA
Topic: From market entry to consolidation – how foreign brands and investors can look at opportunities in the Indian sports market
16. Max Hamilton: Global Commercial Director, European Tour, Golf.
Topic: The journey of building and curating a premium brand identity for a sport and its properties.
17. Rufus Hack: CEO, Hawk-Eye Innovations
Topic: How technology builds trust in sports adjudication
18. Shikha Tandon: Former Indian Olympic Swimmer and chief partnerships officer, Svexa
Topic: How human performance intelligence, physiology, health data science, tech & molecular profiling translate into practical peak sports performance.
19. Gareth Balch: Co-Founder and CEO, Two Circles
Topic: Trajectories and trends in the global sports rights market – from acquisition to measurement
20. Anil Jayaraj: CEO, Viacom 18 Sports.
Topic: Delivering one of the largest sports leagues in the world from rights acquisition planning to advertising to operational execution to broadcast/innovations.
21. Abhijit Bhattacharya: Founder, Brahmaputra Volleyball League, former captain of the Indian volleyball team
Topic: Learnings from building a community sports league
22. Nitish Chiniwar: Founder and CEO, Bridges of Sports Foundation
Topic: Making the community a stakeholder in the sporting journeys of athletes
23. Rohini Mukherjee, Head – Global Partnerships & Strategy, Naandi Foundation
Topic: Empowering India’s adolescent girls through sport – The Toofan Games.
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.
