Sports
Otmar Szafnauer is Force India COO
MUMBAI: The Force India Formula One Team’s chairman and team principal Dr Vijay Mallya confirmed at its Silverstone headquarters that Otmar Szafnauer has been appointed to the position of Force India COO.
Szafnauer will take over the role from Simon Roberts, who has now completed his one year secondment from McLaren Applied Technologies.
Otmar has a wealth of Formula One experience having held, amongst other senior motorsport management positions, director of strategy and business planning for Honda Racing F1 Team and operations director at British American Racing.
He will now take over Roberts’ direct responsibilities, including overseeing factory and trackside operations and will ensure maximum productivity from all Force India in-house departments.
Furthermore, he will liase with McLaren Applied Technologies and Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines to strengthen the existing relationship.
Roberts, meanwhile, will return to McLaren Applied Technologies to take up a senior management role and will continue his involvement with Force India from the other side of the partnership. Roberts will remain in his current position until 2 November.
Dr Mallya commented, “We are sad to see Simon go as he has been a crucial linchpin in the transition to the McLaren and Mercedes drivetrain and his dedication and professional stewardship has led the team to achieving its first-ever podium in F1. However, he was always on secondment and we knew we would have to let him return to the McLaren fold. We are confident that Otmar, with his wealth of F1 experience, will be a worthy successor and will continue the strong upward trend we have seen in the last half of the season.”
Sports
Sony secures exclusive India rights for 2026 Asian Games broadcast
SPNI to air Aichi-Nagoya Games across TV and Sony LIV streaming
MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for the 2026 Asian Games, bringing the continental multi-sport event back to the Sony Sports Network for Indian audiences.
Scheduled to be held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026, the Games will be aired live across Sony’s sports channels and streamed on Sony LIV. The deal covers India and the wider Indian subcontinent, ensuring broad regional access to one of Asia’s biggest sporting spectacles.
The acquisition comes at a time when India’s interest in multi-sport events is at a high. At the previous edition, the country delivered its best-ever performance, clinching 107 medals and signalling its growing strength on the continental stage. With a mix of emerging talent and seasoned athletes, expectations for the upcoming Games are running high.
The 2026 edition will feature competition across 41 sports, including 32 Olympic disciplines, alongside additions such as mixed martial arts and surfing. For Indian viewers, cricket is expected to be a major draw, with both men’s and women’s teams aiming to reclaim top honours in Asia.
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer and business head – sports and international Rajesh Kaul said, “The Asian Games represents sporting excellence and is a powerful platform for national pride.” He added that India’s 100-plus medal milestone at the last edition has sparked unprecedented interest, setting the stage for “another unforgettable chapter”.
Olympic Council of Asia director general Husain Al-Musallam said the agreement marks “the beginning of a new phase” in the distribution of the Asian Games across the Indian subcontinent.
SPNI said it plans to offer comprehensive coverage, including expert analysis and multi-language programming, aiming to bring audiences closer to the action from the opening ceremony through to the final medal events.
With the return of the Asian Games to its network and India eyeing another record haul, Sony is betting big on both sport and sentiment, hoping to turn continental competition into prime-time viewing once again.
