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RCB signs a deal with Spoment Ventures
BANGALURU: To make itself a 365-day brand rather than one that is in the limelight just for 45 days, the IPL franchise – Royal Challengers Bangalore – has brought on board specialist sports management agency, Spoment Ventures, a Singapore headquartered agency that focuses on sports and entertainment business.
The first property under the new deal has already been rolled out as RCB Corporate Cricket Championship, which will have many innovations that will differentiate it from other corporate matches. The final of the tournament will be played at the famed Chinnaswamy Stadium. To give the tournament an edge over others, one RCB player can be substituted for semi finals and finals.
Spoment plans to make it an annual property which will keep growing in stature and size every year. This time, the trump card or super sub is legendary spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan. Corporate teams will have the right to use Muralitharan for one over during the match if they wish.
Spoment director Ashok Karanth said in a release, “To make RCB a 365-day brand, we will create numerous properties to engage with corporate audiences, youth and families using sports lifestyle as a platform.”
The agency is also studying the ticketing and corporate hospitality business model of RCB to help the team increase its revenues from the operations.
It seems the IPL teams don’t want to lose out on any front and thus they have already started creating the buzz before the next IPL season kicks off.
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.
