Sports
Gujarat Giants bring in the ‘Chanakya of Kabaddi’ to chase a PKL title
Randhir Singh Sehrawat, one of the most decorated coaches in the league’s history, takes charge ahead of the 2026 season
GUJARAT: Gujarat Giants mean business. Adani Sportsline has appointed Randhir Singh Sehrawat as head coach of the franchise ahead of the upcoming Pro Kabaddi League season, bringing in one of the sport’s most experienced tactical minds to end the team’s wait for a championship.
Sehrawat is no stranger to the PKL. The Arjuna Award recipient has been associated with the league since its founding in 2014, and his credentials are formidable: a PKL title in Season 6 and six playoff appearances during his coaching career. Away from the franchise circuit, he also led the Indian Railways Kabaddi Team, steering both the men’s and women’s sides to multiple national championship titles.
As a player, Sehrawat represented India at the highest level, competing in the Asian Kabaddi Championship in 1988, the South Asian Games in 1989, and the 1990 Asian Games, where he served as vice-captain of the gold medal-winning Indian team.
Sehrawat was characteristically direct about his ambitions. “Gujarat Giants has a strong mix of young talent and experienced players, and I look forward to working with the team as we aim for the title,” he said.
Sanjay Adesara, chief business officer of Adani Sportsline, was equally bullish, saying Sehrawat’s “deep understanding of the sport will be invaluable in developing the squad.”
The bar is set by Dabang Delhi KC, who were crowned PKL Season 12 champions after a thrilling 31-28 victory over Puneri Paltan. It was their second title, with Fazel Atrachali cementing his place as the most successful foreigner in PKL history along the way.
The Chanakya has his assignment. Now he must deliver.
Sports
Sony Sports launches Kannada channel to expand Karnataka reach
Network sharpens regional push with new Kannada offering, stacking cricket, global sports, and the Asian Games 2026
Mumbai: Sony Sports Network has stepped harder on the regional accelerator, launching Sony Sports Ten 4 Kannada as it targets Karnataka’s sizeable and sports-hungry audience.
The move marks a deeper foray into language-led broadcasting, with the network betting that fans increasingly want sport in their own tongue—not merely subtitled, but culturally tuned. The Kannada channel follows closely on the heels of its Tamil and Telugu launches in 2025, signalling a clear strategy: go local, scale fast.
With this addition, Sony Sports Network’s portfolio swells to 11 sports channels spanning five languages—English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada—cementing its pitch as one of India’s most expansive multi-language sports broadcasters.
The new channel arrives armed with a dense calendar. India’s bilateral tours of England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand headline the cricket slate, alongside the Women’s Asia Cup T20. Further out, the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026—featuring 41 disciplines including cricket, hockey and kabaddi—adds heft to the line-up.
Beyond the pitch, the offering stretches across global and domestic properties: UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, Indian Super League and UFC, all packaged with Kannada commentary and presentation.
“The South market is one of the most significant, accounting for about a third of the overall television viewership, and Karnataka is among one of the most dynamic and high-potential sports markets in the country,” said Rajesh Kaul, chief revenue officer and business head, sports and international, Sony Pictures Networks India. “As consumption increasingly shifts towards language-first experiences, regionalisation is no longer an option but a strategic imperative. With Sony Sports Ten 4 Kannada, we are deepening our commitment to this market, bringing fans closer to the action through a more immersive, culturally relevant viewing experience. This launch not only expands our regional footprint but also strengthens our ability to unlock new audiences and deliver greater value to our partners across an action-packed sporting calendar.”
Available across major distribution platforms, the channel aims to reach viewers across urban and rural Karnataka alike.
The message is unmistakable: in India’s fragmented media market, language is leverage—and Sony Sports intends to use it.
