Three clubs face rejection for I-league berth, post AIFF evaluation

Three corporate-backed clubs, who submitted the bid documents for the upcoming I-League season had to face rejection, post their bid evaluation by AIFF.

As per reports, the bid made by Gokulam FC (Kerala), Ozone Group (Bengaluru) and Crown Sports (Rajasthan) could not meet the requirements of the Request for Proposal (RFP) when evaluated by reputed auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
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Female match officials at U-17 WC, a first for FIFA

For the first time ever, female officials will officiate in a men’s football match under the FIFA banner. The world governing body for football has named female match officials for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.

The FIFA Referees Committee has appointed 21 teams(referee + two line-persons) of match officials, representing all six confederations. However, the most astonishing part of the appointment is the inclusion of female referees. For the first time ever, the football governing body has selected female referees for a men’s tournament.
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Esports Federation of India call entries for eSports Championship

Esports Federation of India (ESFI) on Friday announced the registrations for the India qualifiers “National eSports Championship (NeSC) – 2017” for the 9th Esports World Championship organized by International eSports Federation (IeSF) at Busan, Korea in the month of November this year.

Esports Athletes from all over India will play online and offline to compete in video games like League of Legends and Tekken7 and the winners will represent India at the World Championship. Tekken7 qualifiers will happen at BattleGround Esports Arena in Delhi on 10th Sept. Battleground is India’s one the best esports arena. For League of Legends, the qualifiers will happen online and streamed on leading streaming sites including Facebook and YouTube Gaming.
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GP Petroleums engages Raina as brand ambassador for IPOL

GP Petroleums has signed Indian international cricket star Suresh Raina as a brand ambassador for its IPOL brand.

The UAE-based Gulf Petrochem Group subsidiary has announced the appointment of the dashing left-hander as the brand ambassador for IPOL Lubricants, the signature brand of the company into the industrial lubricants segment.

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Handicap International name Neymar as Goodwill Ambassador

Handicap International has signed Neymar as a goodwill ambassador. World’s most expensive football star has pledged to work for millions who are ‘less visible’ but deserve equality.

Handicap International is a worldwide charity which aims to provide aid and support to disabled and vulnerable people living in poverty-struck countries.

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CureFit in talks to raise $25-30 million in fresh funding

Former Myntra CEO and co-founder Mukesh Bansal’s health and fitness startup Cure Fit Healthcare is negotiating to raise fresh funds of up to $25-30 million to expand its fitness brand Cult, enter new markets, and launch health-related services, livemint.com has reported quoting people familiar with the matter.

CureFit’s investors Accel Partners, IDG Ventures, Kalaari Capital and UC-RNT fund are reported to put in money as part of the new round. The fresh funding initiative is also expected to have a new investor on board.

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BCCI seeks Govt nod to host Asia Cup, after losing U-19 opportunity

BCCI is keen to host the 2018 Asia Cup Cricket tournament. It has sought a green signal from the union government as the competition involves the participation of the Pakistan national cricket team.

The Indian cricket board has earlier lost the opportunity to host the under-19 Asia Cup. The tournament was shifted to Malaysia as the BCCI did not get a green signal from the Government and the Pakistan Cricket Board has raised concerns about sending a team to India.

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T20 Global League bumps up player count per team

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed that T20 Global League will witness an increase in player count per squad.

Five international players (includes Kolpak players) will now be allowed in each T20 Global League team squad, increased from the previously stipulated maximum of four international players in each squad. Consequently, the squad size will be increased from 17 to 18 to ensure domestic players aren’t prejudiced as a result of the increase.
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Gatorade joins Delhi Dynamos for football development

Gatorade, the sports brand, has teamed up with Delhi Dynamos FC to help the club in its effort to imbibe a professional soccer culture at the grassroots level in Delhi and NCR. Gatorade will come on board as the official sports drink of the club’s football development programme and will provide the team with a huge boost as they work towards the holistic development of young kids.

The partnership is aimed at helping innovate new ideas to assist the youngsters in performing their best. Delhi Dynamos in collaboration with Gatorade hopes to provide its young athletes with a better understanding of not just sport, but of life as a whole.
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UEFA Champions League clubs to get $1.52bn

A total of more than €1.3bn ($1.52 bn) will be shared among the clubs in the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League. Uefa has shared the distribution formula at its official website uefa.com.

The estimated gross commercial revenue from the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League, 2017-18 UEFA Europa League and 2017 UEFA Super Cup will be approximately €2.35bn ($2.76 bn).

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Kundra’s commercial venture to redefine poker in India

He is an entrepreneur. He is a sport fanatic. You cannot separate Raj Kundra from sport and enterprise. The rare medley gives India one of its most enterprising sports-entrepreneur. Who is not shy of taking risks. Who is not shy of experimenting. Who adds the entertainment quotient to the business of sports.

During the stint with IPL he was the virtual face of the Rajasthan Royals’ blue brigade. As the Super Fight League promoter he gave the vision to the nation that India is the growing market for combat sports.

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‘SummerSlam’ live streaming in Hindi on WWE Network

SummerSlam will be streamed live in Hindi for the first time on WWE Network. The event slated for August 21 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, will be streamed live from 5 am India time.

Shezi Sardar and Obaid Kadwani will be the presenters from ringside.

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ICC hires security agency for Pakistan for $1.2m

The International Cricket Council has hired an international security company on a three-year term in order to aid the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi has confirmed the development.

“It’s a step by the ICC for the revival of international cricket in Pakistan,” Pakistan’s national daily The Dawn has quoted Sethi as saying. “The company is based in three countries – the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates – and has a good repute.”

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After disappointing exit from track, Bolt’s appointment with football

His very presence graced athletics. But he had to limp off the track with agony of a disappointing, last exit from the scene. Usain Bolt now has an appointment with big time football. The Jamaican sprinter will turn up for Manchester United in an exhibition match. Subject to his fitness. The deal has been signed. The match is slated for September 2, Saturday.

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MCA in court battle to retain IPL 2018 in Maharashtra

MCA is engaged in a legal battle to ensure that they are not forced to shift the IPL matches out of Maharashtra in 2018 as it had happened in 2016.

The issue is related to a pending petition in the Bombay High Court. The High Court had ordered in 2016 to shift some of the Indian Premier League matches out of Maharashtra on account of prevailing drought conditions in the State.
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McGregor using technology to beat Mayweather

The infamous fight of 26 August is nearing and the UFC champion, Conor Mcgregor is seemingly working hard to win it. He is utilizing technology to train himself for the fight against the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather.

Mcgregor is training at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, which provides fighter a space to use innovative fitness solutions in their training for major fights, as per sporttechie.com.
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What makes English Premier League so lucrative?

The most coveted professional football competition kicked off on Saturday, August 12, with the Gunners taking on Leicester in a thrilling seven-goal match and the new signing Alexander Lacazatte scoring on his debut PL match just within 2 mins. This is what makes it more lucrative a deal for football fans and makes it a business opportunity to pounce upon.

The upcoming season is expected to re-define the grandeur that Premier League is and has been. The numbers around the previous seasons are a proof of its splendour.
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Messi joins Hawkers to launch his own eyewear collection

The brand MESSI has teamed up with Hawkers, the Spanish brand sunglasses, to launch his new eyewear collection, making this the first time that the football star has joined forces with a sunglasses brand.

Specifically, the collection of Leo Messi consists of Nine new models manufactured with materials of the new generation of Hawkers. TR 90 Swiss and high quality polymer that provides lightness, elasticity and fuses the style ‘street’ and ‘sportswear’ specially designed for the player.

Of the nine models in the collection, Hawkers and Leo Messi have opted for a different vertical business and have something in the bag for the younger fans as well.

The limited edition includes three styles of kids, three new models Warwick Classic and three models of the collection ONE . The eyewear is available on Hawkers’ website and is priced around 35 euros.

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PCB wants under-19 Asia Cup out of India

The PCB wants that the under-19 Asia Cup should not be held in India.

The Pakistan Cricket Board will register its objection to India getting right to host the Under-19 Asia Cup. The tournament is slated to be played at Bengaluru in November. India has been granted the rights to host the tournament.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs. A response is still awaited.

The PCB will table at the Asian Cricket Council annual general meetings over the weekend in Sri Lanka its demand to relocate the under-19 World Cup to some other venue outside India.

Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad had recently said that Pakistan should boycott India even during the ICC multi-national events. The prevailing political tension has severely dented cultural and sporting ties between the neighbouring nations.

“Since Pakistan is the current chair of ACC, we will discuss this matter on August 12 in Colombo,” Najam Sethi, head of the PCB’s executive committee, had told ESPNcricinfo. “There are secure neutral venues outside India and Pakistan where the championship can be held.”

PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan is also the ICC president.

“We definitely want to play the tournament, being an important member in the ACC. But playing in India in present circumstances is not possible. There will be a visa glitch and a lot of other off-field issues will prevail. We don’t want to face any inconvenience ahead of the event,” a PCB spokesperson has reportedly said.

English Premier League clubs to play in India?

English Premier League clubs may play in India during their off season. Efforts have been initiated by the Indian Government. Premier League clubs are now regularly playing their off season games at overseas venues. Some Indian States are keen to avail the opportunity and play host to the big ticket events.

The Union Government too is interested in inviting Premier League clubs to India for playing on the facilities developed for the under-17 football World Cup, which India will be hosting in October.

Sports Secretary Injeti Srinivas during his visit to the UK last month has had a meeting with the English Premier League’s international relations manager Tim Vine to explore the possibility of bringing top English clubs to India.

“A number of States have shown keen interest in hosting Premier League matches,” Incheti has said. According to Injeti, the Union Government would offer all the help in bringing the EPL clubs to India but not get involved directly for organizing the matches.

Vine has confirmed to Indian Express in an email that the “discussion last month focused more on PL activity in India — and how we are involved in bringing the clubs to India…” He further added that plans on “football development and fan engagement events” were discussed, while touching upon the Premier League Asia Trophy that was held in Hong Kong. English Clubs’ overseas matches are normally planned a year in advance and take place in the month of June and July.

This year, Arsenal and Chelsea have warmed up for the season in Beijing, Manchester United were in the USA for a month, Liverpool prepared in Hong Kong Everton in Tanzania. A Premier League Asia Trophy is also played during the same June-July period.

Premier League is also seeing value in India as one of its biggest markets. India has a Premier League television viewership of around 150 million per season. EPL Clubs are also running their academies in India. Though, poor football infrastructure was blamed for keeping clubs away from bringing their teams to India. However, the readiness for the Under-17 Fifa World Cup is all set to change that scenario.

Sports Ministry is also considering to legalise online sports betting in India. Srinivas has also met the director of UK’s Gambling Commission, Nick Tofiluk, in that regard. There will be further talks on that.

Tata Group title sponsors for Mumbai Marathon

The Tata Group will be the title sponsors for Mumbai Marathon. Country’s premier Marathon will now be known as Tata Mumbai Marathon from the next 2018 season.

Tata Group replaces the British banker Standard Chartered for the Mumbai Marathon title with an expectation that one day the event will become “one of the world’s majors”. Presently, Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, New York City and Chicago are considered as world’s major Marathon runs.

This is the third Marathon association for the Tata Group, following TCS’ commitment to the New York City Marathon and the Amsterdam Marathon.

Standard Chartered has supported the event for 14 years – ever since coming on board in 2004.

Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekharan, himself a distance runner, said, “It (running) teaches you tenacity, it teaches you perseverance, it teaches you persistence, patience. It makes you observe things. Running and marathon running, to me, (is) finding a relationship with yourself”.

“It’s a great city. I look forward to being part of the marathon and hope many many people will enjoy the race and Bombay hopefully someday becomes one of the world majors,” added Chandrasekharan.

Vivek Singh of Procam International, the promoter of Mumbai Marathon, announced that the diversified, US$ 102 billion Tata Sons will helm the marathon for the next decade. “The entry of Tata’s into running will make world a better place,” Singh said at an event in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Procam International also owns the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, Tata Consultancy Services World 10K Bangalore, and Tata Steel Kolkata 25K.

Legendary Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie was present at the event to announce the tie-up. Maharashtra Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, the face of the Marathon since 2008 John Abraham, actress Gul Panag, lyricist Prasoon Joshi, Mumbai Cricket Association president Ashish Shelar were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Development Tourism Corporation has supported the Mumbai Marathon.

The 2018 Mumbai Marathon will be held on January 21, 2018. Registrations for the Marathon Race category on August 2.