Sports
Pluckk partners Pickleball Maharashtra Open 2026 as freshness partner
Event from 1 to 3 May in Mumbai to feature clean-label food and experience zone.
MUMBAI: Game, set, snack because even the fastest rallies need a fresh refill. Pluckk, a fresh food-focused digital brand, has been named the Official Freshness Partner for the Pickleball Maharashtra Open 2026, set to take place from 1 to 3 May at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai. Organised by the Maharashtra Pickleball Association, the tournament brings together a growing community around one of India’s fastest-rising sports.
As part of the partnership, Pluckk will introduce an on-ground ‘Experience Zone’, offering athletes and attendees access to quick, clean and functional food options throughout the three-day event. The spread will include 100 per cent natural tender coconut water, cold-pressed juices and plant-based protein bars, all positioned as no-added-sugar, no-preservative alternatives.
The collaboration reflects a broader shift in sports culture, where nutrition is becoming as central as performance. Pickleball’s rapid rise from a niche pastime to a fitness-driven community sport has created space for brands to plug into lifestyle narratives beyond the game itself.
For Pluckk, the association is as much about visibility as it is about positioning. By embedding itself within an active sports ecosystem, the brand is pitching fresh, clean eating as a seamless extension of movement, recovery and everyday wellness.
With the Maharashtra Pickleball Association aiming to expand the sport’s reach and engagement, the addition of nutrition-led experiences adds another layer to the event’s appeal. And for players and spectators alike, the message is clear: staying energised on court now comes with a side of clean convenience.
Sports
Dream Sports Foundation partners Premier League for youth football
Workshops, masterclasses to boost coaches at Goa event from 3–14 May.
MUMBAI: India’s football dreams are getting a Premier touch and this time, it’s the coaches taking centre stage. Dream Sports Foundation (DSF), the development arm of Dream Sports, has partnered with the Premier League for the upcoming Dream Sports Championship, scheduled to be held in Goa from 3 to 14 May. The collaboration marks a strategic push to strengthen grassroots football by focusing not just on players, but the people shaping them on the sidelines.
The partnership will see the Premier League conduct a series of coach-development workshops and masterclasses during the tournament, as well as within the AIFF Under-16 Junior League ecosystem. The sessions will cover training methodology, match management, physical conditioning, sports psychology and leadership—bringing global best practices into India’s evolving academy structure.
This move builds on DSF’s role as the Official Youth Development Partner of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), with the initiative designed to plug long-standing gaps in coaching infrastructure and knowledge exchange.
By working closely with academies, clubs and support staff, both organisations are aiming to create a more structured and globally aligned development pathway—where young players benefit from better-trained mentors as much as competitive exposure.
Neel Shah, CEO, Dream Sports Foundation, said the initiative reflects a dual focus on player and coach development, adding that meaningful exposure to international standards is key to unlocking India’s footballing potential.
Premier League India managing director Hrishikesh Shende noted that the league’s growing presence in India including its Mumbai office has been centred on grassroots development, with partnerships like this helping translate global expertise into local impact.
As Indian football continues its slow but steady climb, the message is clear, better coaches today could mean better players tomorrow and perhaps, a stronger showing on the world stage in the years to come.
