Xtep Unveils the Spirit of Boxing Legend Muhammad Ali Sportwear in Indian Market

Highlights

* S. Suresh Kumar, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education and Sakala of Karnataka inspires youth to adopt sports as a part of their lives and boost ‘Fit India' mission through his message
* Hong Kong based Xtep shares global best practices to make sports a people’s movement in India
* Xtep India plans to expand from one to seven cities by end of 2020

Hong Kong headquartered global sportswear brand Xtep International Holdings Limited launched Sports-Life movement for people in Bengaluru. The move is a first step towards making sports-fitness an integral part of people’s lives in Karnataka. The movement was dedicated to legendary boxer Muhammad Ali whose principles inspire the ordinary masses to reach extraordinary heights in sports and life.

Chief Guest, Shri S. Suresh Kumar and special guests Olympic boxers and coaches Mr. Ganapathy Manoharan, Mr. I. Amaladass, Mr. M. Venu and Director, Xtep India, Vijay Chowdhary were the key dignitaries for the event titled – ‘Remembering all-time boxing legend Muhammad Ali’. True to the theme the Indian boxing titans reminisced their bout with the legend in New Delhi in 1980. The event also sought to inspire youth to adopt sports as an essential life skill and presented Xtep learning from global markets to fuel sports uptake in India.   

In a message to the audience, Shri S. Suresh Kumar said,  “Sports-Life will empower citizens to be active participants in community sporting activities than being passive consumers of sports products. As Minister for Education in Karnataka I have always been very keen to promote a sporting culture amongst our children. I have been making every effort to inculcate a sporting spirit in our young girls and boys in all the schools. I welcome the effort of Xtep in this direction that will lend an impetus to Fit-India movement launched by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” he added.

Revealing Xtep plans and global best practices to introduce Sports-Life culture in India, Vijay Chowdhary said, “Xtep has influenced mass uptake of sports through technology/R&D and targeted community activations aimed at youth.”

“In the area of technology, Xtep Sports Science innovation lab researches runners’ data to produce functionally superior sports shoes for consumers. Xtep has introduced consumer sports-technology such as BMI and 3D printers to help the public select the right pair of shoes scientifically in community run clubs across China.

“In aspects of training and activation/alliances, Xtep has conducted over 200 marathons since 2011 in China and Vietnam and several football matches in Saudi Arabia. We have even partnered with Government of Vietnam to launch a people’s running event. Xtep has also collaborated with professional marathon runners to train the public.”

“For India market, in phase 1, we have introduced mass affordable and functional sports shoes for different fitness needs and consumer categories. We plan to expand to seven cities by end of 2020 to reach a wider consumer base. In phase 2, we’ll bring high-tech consumer sports technology to India. We’ll also partner with run clubs, Govt., private stakeholders, emerging sports aspirants, role models and trainers to nurture sports-life through community events. In phase 3, we’ll invest in sports infrastructure based on market demand,” he adds.

Commenting on the event, Vijay said, “Xtep draws its inspiration from Muhammad Ali’s principles of confidence, conviction, dedication, respect, giving and spirituality. These principles resonate with each of the Indian boxing champions who shared a moment in time with the legend. We hope they will continue to inspire more people to join the Sports-Life movement in India.” 

HGS Sells India Domestic CRM Biz to Altruist Technologies

Hinduja Global Solutions Limited (HGS) has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its India Domestic Customer Relationship Management (CRM) business to leading BPM services provider Altruist Technologies Private Limited. This is an all-cash transaction for Rs. 40 crore, subject to adjustments. In addition, the proceeds from working capital will accrue to HGS. The transaction, subject to approvals, is expected to close by January 31, 2020.

HGS’ Domestic CRM business comprises primarily voice services and some non-voice processes. Post completion of the transaction, HGS will transfer client contracts and assets at 10 delivery centers across Bangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Noida, Indore and Raipur. Over 7,300 employees will move to Altruist as part of the agreement. For the six months ended September 2019, revenue from HGS Domestic CRM business was around Rs. 145 crore.

HGS will continue to focus on strengthening its international business that supports global clients out of India, HGS Business Services (comprising HRO, Compliance, Payroll and F&A Services) and HGS Interactive businesses.

Edelweiss Financial Services Limited acted as the sole financial advisor to HGS on the transaction.

About Hinduja Global Solutions (HGS):

A global leader in business process management (BPM) and optimizing the customer experience lifecycle, HGS is helping make its clients more competitive every day. HGS combines technology-powered services in automation, analytics and digital with domain expertise focusing on back office processing, contact centers and HRO solutions to deliver transformational impact to clients. Part of the multi-billion dollar conglomerate Hinduja Group, HGS takes a true “globally local” approach, with over 44,218 employees across 71 delivery centers in seven countries making a difference to some of the world’s leading brands across nine key verticals. For the year ended March 31, 2019, HGS had revenues of Rs. 48,167 million (US$ 689 million).

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts Expands Footprint in Bengaluru with “Shravanthi Sarovar Portico” in J P Nagar

Highlights

* 6th property of Sarovar in Bengaluru
* Sarovar Hotels & Resorts has over 6400 keys under its management

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts expands its footprint with the launch of “Shravanthi Sarovar Portico” in South Bangalore.  This is Sarovar’s sixth hotel after Davanam Sarovar Portico Suites, La Marvella Sarovar Premiere, Radha Hometel, Radisson Blu and RBD Sarovar Portico.

Shravanthi Sarovar Portico is a midscale hotel located in JP Nagar, one of Bangalore’s oldest planned suburbs.  The hotel offers easy access to the Central Business District and electronic city and is in close proximity to major tech parks and entertainment hubs. It offers 80 newly renovated guest rooms, an all-day dining restaurant, club bar, fitness center and conferencing facilities. The redecorated lobby is spacious and comprises of a coffee lounge, just the perfect setting for relaxation or business networking.

Shravanthi Sarovar Portico has different decorative themes on each of the four floors. From Scandinavian to Spanish county to Manhattan to the Royal, the hotel’s theme floors and rooms will leave the traveler with a signature experience akin to none.

On the launch, Mr. Ajay Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are happy to associate with Shravanthi Group for our new property in South Bangalore. We found great synergies with the group and are excited about our association. With an apt location and serene atmosphere, our new property will be a home away from home for both business and leisure travelers.”

Sarovar Hotels & Resorts is a leading hotel management company and one of the fastest growing chains of hotels in India managing 80 hotels in 50 destinations in India and overseas. “We are delighted to associate with Sarovar Hotels and Resorts. This is our maiden foray into hospitality and with Shravathi Sarovar Portico, we aim to cater to both corporate and leisure travelers. The property is optimally located and is serene yet easily accessible.  We recognized the demand of a business hotel in the locality and are confident our offering will enthrall our clientele”, said L Balakrishnama Naidu, Chairman & Managing Director of Shravanthi Group.

TECNO Brings 6000 mAh Battery Beast & AMOLED Display Priced at Rs 8499 and Available on Flipkart

TECNO, the global premier smartphone brand known for its ahead of the curve approach, is launching today yet another future-ready device ‘TECNO SPARK POWER at just INR 8499. Bolstered by the success of SPARK Go, TECNO SPARK POWER will be a game changer in the INR 9K smartphone segment owing to its monstrous 6000mAh battery. The product will be available for sale on one of the leading e-commerce platforms – Flipkart starting 1st December 2019, 12 noon onwards.

TECNO SPARK POWER is the latest addition to the brand’s popular and globally acclaimed SPARK series that made its India debut during this year’s festive season. The new smartphone is designed for the most discerning tech savvy millennials in India for whom their mobile is the primary screen for all daily needs and entertainment on the go. TECNO SPARK POWER boasts of a ‘category defining’ 6000 mAh battery with AI power saving & safe charging, addressing the need of youth to enjoy uninterrupted non-stop entertainment. TECNO SPARK POWER’s battery back-up can last up to 5 days giving users 29 hours of video playback, 35 hours of calling, 17 hours of gaming or 200 hours of music – all in a single charge!

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TRANSSION India said, “We are a consumer-centric brand and we believe in offering consumers with more options and future ready budget smartphones by staying ahead of the curve in the segment. TECNO SPARK POWER adds another dimension to our product portfolio and this time we are focused on providing Indian consumers with long lasting battery life in under 10K segment, which is far ahead of what other smartphones offer in this segment.  The new smartphone comes loaded with meaningful innovations such as everlasting battery, 6.35” Dot notch AMOLED screen, Intelligent Triple rear camera kit with Quad flash, and advance localized HiOS features, which makes it one of the best ‘All-rounder champion’ phone in the sub 10k category. We can’t wait for our consumers to enjoy this ultimate powerhouse which stands out in every dimension of design, performance, and user experience.”

TECNO SPARK Power is a perfect amalgamation of performance and aesthetics with 6.35” HD+ AMOLED screen that sets a new benchmark for an uninterrupted video viewing experience. It comes with Full vision + Full Horizon (19.5:9) Aspect Ratio with category-defining 600 Nits brightness.  Despite of the massive 6000mAH battery, TECNO Spark Power is sleek and boasts curved glossy unibody for a stylish finish. The smartphone is available in two contemporary color hues - Dawn Blue and Alpenglow Gold.

Making the photography more intuitive, the new TECNO SPARK Power boasts an integration of advance triple rear camera set-up with Quad Flash, that comprises of 13MP primary rear camera with F1.85 apertures, 2MP depth-sensing lens perfectly suited for real portraits and an additional 8MP 120° Ultra-Wide Lens, which has a special feature of microspur that supports focus on objects within 2.5 cm. It also come equipped with Google Lens features, for smart identification of objects automatically popping up all the relevant information for your easiest reach.  That’s not all, SPARK Power also sports a 13 MP selfie camera with innovative dual flash and advance AI technology that offers 6 levels of beauty mode for providing best-in-class photography experience to Indian consumers.

The new smartphone is powered by a 2.0Ghz octa-core Helio P22 chipset paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Unlike hybrid SIM slots, TECNO SPARK Power supports triple card slot whereby a consumer can use dual SIM cards and memory card at the same time which is expandable up to 256GB. As smartphone privacy and security is key these days, SPARK POWER comes with advance AI face recognition technology which captures 170 facial points to unlock the device. Additionally, it also incorporates TECNO’s unique localised anti-oil fingerprint sensor that provides hassle free access to the phone under all Indian lifestyle and weather conditions.  Another unique feature is Smart Key placed in left side of TECNO SPARK Power which allows user to open Google Assistant for performing multiple functions.

In addition, the brand is giving its consumers inaugural offer of 3 months Gaana Plus Subscription worth INR 297 for free on every TECNO Spark Power unit. 

Emirates Appoints Jabr Al-Azeeby As New Vice President in India, Nepal

Emirates has appointed Jabr Al-Azeeby as the new Vice President India and Nepal. This is part of the airline’s management rotation and positions it to better serve customer needs and respond with agility to market dynamics.

Al-Azeeby began his career with Emirates in October 2005 as a commercial graduate trainee, and quickly moved up the ranks to the role of Manager Uganda in 2008. He held this position for three years, gaining significant expertise in managing commercial operations and teams, enhancing the customer experience, looking for opportunities to better serve the local community, and working with internal stakeholders across Emirates’ wide network and span.

 This was followed by stints in several countries, including Cyprus, Thailand and Indochina. Jabr has more than 14 years of experience spearheading the airline’s commercial operations across countries and regions.

 Jabr Al-Azeeby, the new Vice President India and Nepal said: “I’ve always admired the different facets of India, its people and its culture, and am awed by the country’s progress and fast-paced development. This is an interesting time, as the UAE and India have recently forged even closer bilateral ties. I’m excited to lead the Emirates team in India and look forward to building a strong relationship with our customers, the trade and all our key stakeholders. India continues to lead as one of our most important markets and we’re committed to offering our customers convenience, comfort, innovative products and personalised services. Our growing base of Indian travellers are seeking quality travel experiences worldwide, and we aim to give our customers world class travel services and value for money.”

With a successful track record of boosting the airline’s operations in challenging markets, Al-Azeeby commences his new role from October, after replacing Essa Sulaiman Ahmad who has now been promoted as Divisional Vice President USA and Canada.

Young Kannadigas are Tking Marriage Decisions into Their Own Hands: Report by KannadaMatrimony.com

KannadaMatrimony, the leading matchmaking service for Kannadigas, from BharatMatrimony, studied the demographic patterns of lakhs of registered users. The data revealed fascinating insights on Kannada speaking people and their life partner preferences.

Highlights from the research report:

The user base comprised of 31% women and 69% men with the average age of male registrants being 28 years and that of women being 27 years
NRI registrants were mostly from United States of America, United Arab Emirates, Canada, United Kingdom and Germany
57% of Women and 55% of Men were open to seeking life partners living overseas, of which USA, Canada and Australia were among the most preferred countries
Indicating the progressive nature of the Kannadiga community was the fact that 25% men and 20% women were open to a life partner outside their own caste
The top cities within Karnataka that witnessed maximum number of registrations included Bangalore, Mysore and Tumkur
The top professions of men were Business owners/ Entrepreneurs, followed by software professionals, whereas for women, it was Software Professionals and teachers
Individuals are increasingly taking marriage decisions into their own hands as is evident from the fact that 70% of the total profiles were created by the individuals themselves.

52% women seeking a life partner are 23-27 years, while 45% men are in the age group of 26-30 years.

In terms of educational qualification, the most popular stream of education amongst registrants was technology and arts degrees.

31% women and 14% men preferred life partners whose education qualification is Masters degree or above.

In tune with the mobile and internet trends, 90% of KannadaMatrimony members did their life partner search using their mobile.

Commenting on the interesting trends, Murugavel Janakiraman, Founder and CEO, Matrimony.com said, "Over the last 19 years, KannadaMatrimony has become the No. 1 choice for lakhs of Kannada speaking people when it comes to finding a life partner. Lakhs of Kannadigas have successfully found their life partner here and we continue to grow our user base amongst the vibrant Kannadiga community in India and across the globe. Karnataka is a large and priority market for us, and we continue to step up our efforts to help more Kannadigas find their life partner.”

JK Tyre Unveils its Most Fuel Efficient Radial Tyres - XF Series

Highlights

* The lower rolling resistance technology in the tyres leads to up to 8% fuel saving and improved mileage
* Created using the JETOCT technology that results in greater durability and resilience

Indian Tyre Industry major & the market leader in Truck Bus Radial segment, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd today launched the next generation of fuel-efficient tyres - the XF Series, delivering unprecedented savings to customers in terms of cost per kilometer (CPKM) while also improving mileage. The XF fuel-efficient tyre series comes in two variants - front axle JETWAY JUH XF and rear axle JETSTEEL JDH XF, ideal for long and regional haul applications.

The XF tyre series is built on the cutting edge advanced technology – ‘lower rolling resistance’ (RRC). This technology helps improve tyre efficiency by saving up to 8% fuel in comparison to normal radial tyres.

Mr. Vikram Malhotra, Marketing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, said, “At JK Tyre & Industries, it’s our constant endeavor to cater to the needs and requirements of our customers to enhance their driving experience. With our game-changing XF series, we want to give our customers the next generation of fuel-efficient tyres. This further underscores our promise to deliver to the evolving needs of the market and introduce tyres that help maintain pace with the changing market requirements.”

The XF tyre series is created using the innovative JETOCT technology that helps in the reduction of heat buildup in the carcass, resulting in improved durability. In addition, aided by the new tetra beam belt, this series also maintains a higher tread stiffness, allowing for greater number of retreads. The technology used to create the XF series has been tested and validated at the Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence- RPSCOE.

The XF Series tyres are now available across JK Tyre authorized dealers in the country.

About JK Tyre and Industries Limited:

Part of the JK Organisation, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd is a leading tyre manufacturer in India and amongst the top 25 manufacturers in the world with a wide range of products catering to diverse business segments in the automobile industry. JK Tyre is the only tyre manufacturer in India to be included in the list of Superbrand in 2019, the seventh time the honour has been conferred upon the company.

JK Tyre has global presence in 100 countries across six continents, backed by production support from 12 plants - 9 in India and 3 in Mexico. Currently, the capacity across all its plants is about 35 million tyres per annum. In April 2016, JK Tyre acquired Cavendish India Limited from Birla Tyres. While acquisition added three modern plants to its portfolio taking the total count to 12, it helped the tyre major foray into the two/three wheeler segment as well. In 2018, the company inaugurated its state-of-the-art Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence (RPSCOE) at Mysore.

Pioneers of radial technology, JK Tyre produced the first radial tyre in 1977 and is currently the market leader in Truck Bus Radial segment. With over three decades of technological innovation, JK Tyre offers tyre for entire range of passenger and commercial vehicles, starting from a 3 kg two-wheeler tyre to a 3.5-ton OTR tyre.