Close To 1400 School Athletes Competed In Multi-Sports On Day 4 Of The SFA Championships In Bengaluru

 ·         Athletes competed in six sports - Badminton, Skating, Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis, and Football - all in one day

·         Badminton and skating witnessed highest athlete participation, with close to 300 matches on the badminton courts, and close to 30 races in the skating rink

An action packed Day 4 of the SFA Championships in Bengaluru unfolded with multiple sports, showcasing a combination of grit, determination and commitment by athletes, across the city. The Padukone Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence (PDCSE) took center stage, with the commencement of Badminton, Volleyball and Basketball matches, while the Force 1 Skating Rink witnessed the thrilling kickoff of skating competitions.

On the commencement of Badminton at the Championships, Prakash Padukone, Founder, Padukone Sports Management shared, "All that we need to do is give a child a ground to play, and then see their passion for sports soar higher. Enabling a sporting platform for school athletes to compete in diverse sports, SFA Championships is a great step in discovering future potential. During our times, we could only watch other players and learn to get better. With the SFA Championships, emerging athletes can now get an early exposure to coaches, professional stadiums and plan their careers in sports. At the Padukone Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence (PDCSE), we are glad to be supporting this grassroots movement shaping the country's  landscape in sports".   

Basketball finals of U-11 girls and boys brought the courts to life with spirited competition. The U-11 Basketball final witnessed an impressive victory by Vidyashilpa, who dominated the court against Greenwoods, with a remarkable score of 14-0. Volleyball semi-finals in the U-16 and U-18 boys categories kept spectators on the edge of their seats with intensive sporting battles. At the skating rink, competitions kicked off from U-7 to U-17 categories, with participants gliding with impressive manoeuvres in pursuit of victory.

Filled with pride, Chirag S. Gowda's father, witnessing his son's success in skating, shared, “We're extremely happy that Chirag won a silver medal in the U-7 category for 200m quads and a gold medal in the 400m quads (U-7 category). His mother, who is a national-level netball player, is his inspiration in sports. This was our first experience at the SFA Championships, and the well organised structure and support made it a seamless and an enjoyable experience. I believe that such platforms play a crucial role in motivating children to move forward in sports.”

Football action continued, featuring knockout rounds for U-14 Boys and quarter finals for U-16 Boys. Simultaneously, the Tennis quarter finals were held for boys in the category from U-10 to U-16, along with the U-14 Boys (Doubles) final, adding intensity to the atmosphere.

Demonstrating the power of sport in transforming the society, Day 5 will celebrate female athletes participating at the SFA Championships in Bengaluru, as part of the 'She is Gold' initiative. Day 5 also promises to surge in excitement as Football (U14, U16 & U18), Tennis, Badminton, Volleyball, and Basketball gear up to captivate audiences with intense competitions.

The daily schedule, detailed results of each sport's competition, will be available on – www.sfaplay.com. For real-time updates, highlights, and exclusive behind-the-scenes moments, follow our social media channels – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

SFA Championships is poised to make sports accessible for school athletes across the country, thereby empowering today’s talent to become the Champions of tomorrow. The journey to represent the country at the Olympics, is what SFA Championships is enabling for emerging athletes. 

About Sports For All (SFA)

Sports For All (SFA)?is India's?largest tech-enabled multi-sport grassroots competition platform. The vision is to make youth fall in love with sports through inspiring and joyful sporting experiences.?Founders?Rishikesh Joshi and Vishwas Choksi,?since the inception of SFA in 2015, have determinedly focused on transforming and mobilizing school sporting championships in the country, by providing an inclusive, diverse, safe, and best-in-class platform for the youth to realize their fullest potential through sports.

SFA Championships, SFA’s flagship IP, brings forth the potential of large-scale multi-sporting competitions propelled by tech and data analytics. Being?phygital?in nature, the SFA Championships have today become the backbone of identifying sporting potential at the grassroots level. In 2023, SFA has pledged to encourage 2 lakh athletes to participate at 9 SFA Championships, across the cities of Indore, Dehradun, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Ahmedabad, to determine the “number one school in sports”, in each city.

With a technology-led approach at its core, SFA enables the entire grassroots sport ecosystem via SFAPLAY.COM, a platform designed to empower and connect all stakeholders via statistics, data, analytics, match videos, content, performance management, and competition management systems.

SFA is the leading sports entrepreneurial venture empaneled with the Sports Authority of India (SAI). We have been the “official partner” of the Indian Olympic Association, enabling support for Indian contingent to the Tokyo Olympics, 2020; Birmingham Commonwealth Games, 2022; Asian Games, 2022. SFA has been an integral team at the 36th National Games, Gujarat, 2022, the 37th National Games, Goa, 2023 and editions of Khelo India Youth Games in Haryana, Pune and Guwahati. In the year 2023, SFA signed on as the “powered by” sponsors for the Khelo India Youth Games, for the next five years.

Stay tuned as we transform the school sporting ecosystem?www.sfaplay.com

The 10’000th Made-in-India Volvo Car Rolls Out At Its Bangalore Facility

Volvo Car India has reached the milestone of having produced ten thousand cars in India at its Bangalore facility. It was in 2017 that the company commenced assembly operations with the ever-popular XC90 being the first car to be assembled and rolled out. Till date the highest production has been of the XC60 with 4000+ numbers. The honour of being the ten thousandth car goes to the company’s first Pure electric offering the “XC40 recharge”.

“It is indeed a matter of pride for the company to have reached this milestone in short span of time in spite of nearly three years of pandemic disruptions. The steady increase of capacities at Bangalore reflects our commitment to India’s luxury mobility segment. The honour of being the ten thousandth car goes to our first Pure electric offering, XC40 Recharge which continues to showcase consumer confidence. I am beholden to Volvo Car India’s entire ecosystem that has made this milestone possible” said Mr. Jyoti Malhotra, Managing Director, Volvo Car India

“Rolling out the ten thousandth car is indeed a major milestone for our plant. Since 2017 we have been increasing our capacities to meet customer demand and have also continuously undertaken skill upgradation leading to the successful assembly of EVs. Our plant also holds the proud distinction of having rolled out India’s first domestically assembled EV our XC40 Recharge” said Mr. Gao Feng, Production Head, Volvo Car India

The manufacturing facility in Hoskote near Bengaluru commenced assembly of Volvo cars in 2017. The company today locally assembles all its models in India namely XC90, XC60, S90, XC40 Recharge and the recently launched C40 Recharge.

Volvo Cars in India

Swedish luxury car Company Volvo established its presence in India in 2007 and has since then, worked intensively to market the Swedish brand in the country. Volvo Cars currently markets products through 25 dealerships in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi NCR – South Delhi, West Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Indore, Raipur, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ludhiana, West Mumbai, South Mumbai, Pune, Raipur, Surat, Vishakhapatnam and Vijayawada.

Teeing Up Excitement: BMW Golf Cup 2024 Held In Bengaluru

* The largest international tournament series for amateur golfers

* 15 Golf tournaments in 9 cities at the finest golf courses across India

* #BMWGolfCup2024 #DrivenByPassion #BMWGolfSport #BMWIndia #SheerDrivingPleasure

BMW India held the India edition of the largest amateur golf tournament – The BMW Golf Cup 2024 in Bengaluru. The much-awaited golf tournament will be held at spectacular golf courses across Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Noida, Kolkata and Gurgaon. The winners of the regional tournaments will compete at the national finals which will be held later in 2024.

BMW Golf Cup, one of the world’s largest amateur golf tournament series can trace its roots back a quarter of a century to a British-based initiative that ran on its own for five years before going international. The tournament started as the BMW Invitation Tournament in UK. It has now developed into a global series with 1,000 qualifying tournaments involving 100,000 players in up to 50 countries. The best players from each nation qualify for the highlight, the BMW Golf Cup World Final.

An exclusive, invitation-only event, the BMW Golf Cup 2024 is open to golfers who are members of recognised golf clubs in country. The tournaments are held in accordance with the rules of the respective local golf club. It is also a loyalty program that rewards BMW customers with a chance to qualify for one of the largest amateur golf tournaments in the world. BMW India dealers identify amateur golfers amongst BMW owners who would be interested in participating in the tournament.

India is one of 50 participating countries at the World Final of BMW Golf Cup 2024 which is a global series with 1,000 qualifying tournaments involving 100,000 players. The BMW Golf Cup is an amateur golf tournament series designed for customers, prospects and opinion leaders and provides the right mix for an exclusive social interaction.

The BMW Golf Cup has three categories, A (for handicaps up to 12), B (for handicaps 13 – 28) and Ladies Category (for handicaps up to 28). The winners, runners-up and second runners-up of the individual handicap categories qualify for the National Final. The winners in each of the three handicap categories in the National Final qualify to take part in the World Final of BMW Golf Cup.

Centricity Expands Its Footprint Into The South Market With A New Office In Bengaluru

* Since started operations in April 2023, Bengaluru will be the 6th office alongside Gurugram, Mumbai, Agra, Lucknow and Kanpur offices

Centricity, a Gurugram-based wealthtech startup, proudly announces the grand inauguration of its new office in Bengaluru, expanding its footprint into the south market. Strategically located on the bustling Church Street, it will cater to a diverse set of requirements in wealth management and financial product distribution across the region. Centricity has started hiring select talent across a range of capabilities and is welcoming new hires in Bengaluru.  Since Centricity started operations in April 2023, it has created a vast network of more than 1600 financial product distributors across 12 states and 15 cities, onboarding over 2000 clients.

Highlighting the strategic significance of the Bengaluru office, Anirudh Mahanot, Founding Team Member and Business Head (South & West India) at Centricity, expressed, "Bengaluru is a pivotal market for us, and this new office represents our commitment to innovation. With this new office we are aiming to reach more people and bridge the gap among Investors, Wealth Managers & Asset Managers. Our tie-up with IIT Madras research park is working on specialized modules to integrate elements of AI and ML to make this platform efficient.”

Founding Partners, Manu Awasthy (CEO) and Gaurav Tiwari, along with senior team members Vinayak Magotra, Arpita Hegde and Abhay Mishra, and Centricity team graced the event. The Bengaluru office will be led by Anirudh Mahanot and his dedicated team, including Attaur Khan (Branch Manager, Bangalore) and Shankar PA (Branch Manager, Bangalore).

Centricity’s “OneDigital” is India’s first tech-enabled multi-asset class, multi-product platform that enables MFDs to access a comprehensive digital financial product listing, execute transactions digitally and deliver multi-product and multi-advisor client portfolio reports seamlessly. It also equips MFDs with tools such as goal planning, a learning & development library, portfolio analytics and more.

Centricity's second platform, "INVICTUS," caters to single-family offices, UHNI, and corporate treasuries with portfolios exceeding 100cr. INVICTUS serves as an insight’s engine, simplifying investment management processes and offering holistic reporting, investment reckoner, portfolio scanner, liquidity profile, and performance tracking.

Having also achieved ISO27001:2022 and RIA licence, Centricity has ambitious plans for the upcoming year, including expanding business development teams, adding tech talent, achieving ESG compliance. Initiatives such as setting up a support call centre, applying for broking licenses, conducting many more distributor partner roadshows, and offering mortgages for distributors are also in the pipeline.

Indian Tech Firm Data Xgen Technologies Launches New Email Service-Jaishriram.bharat- In Support of Ram Mandir Reconstruction

Indian company Data Xgen Technologies today announced its contribution to the reconstruction of the Ram Mandir by launching a new email service, specially dedicated to the celebration of the consecration of Lord Ram. The service has initially been launched in Hindi, with the launch event coinciding with the much-anticipated consecration ceremony scheduled for January 22. 

Data Xgen Technologies has introduced a free email service under the domain name jaishriram.bharat. To avail of this service, individuals can download the DataMail (DATAMAIL) mobile app from the Android and Apple App Stores and enjoy its benefits free of charge. The service is accessible on any device through mobile email applications and the web.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the initiative that is a fusion of technology and spirituality, Mr. Ajay Data, Founder and CEO of Data Xgen, said, “The reconstruction of the Ram Mandir is a significant milestone, and we are proud to contribute to this new chapter. Data Xgen's goal has always been to work for the benefit of society through technological advancements, and with this email service, we aim to provide people with a secure, safe, and easy way to enjoy the benefits of email and align it with spirituality too."

"As 88% of citizens in India primarily communicate in local languages, it is crucial for our email service to be available in their language. Hindi being a major language, we have initially launched jaishriram.bharat in Hindi, and soon it will be available in other languages as well," emphasized Mr. Ajay Data.

Data Xgen Technologies is the first company globally to provide a fully Indian-manufactured email service. It supports email IDs in 22 Indian languages including Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, among others, and foreign languages as well, making it the world's first linguistic email service.

Data Xgen Enterprise Email Software, XgenPlus, which powers this email service, is already serving over 50 million users worldwide. Any individual with a domain in any language can also benefit from Xgen Plus for email. It is a robust communication solution that provides email, transaction-related emails, and group emails, all in one place—fast, secure, and reliable.

Mahindra Introduces Supro Profit Truck Excel: Elevating Customer Prosperity With Enhanced Features. Price Starts At Rs 6.61 Lakh

* In line with brand promise, the Supro Profit Truck Excel aims to deliver superior power, class-leading mileage and bigger deck length leading to superior profits for customers ~

•              Offers best-in-class rated payload of 900 kg (Diesel) and 750 kg (CNG Duo)

•              Increased deck length of 2515 mm

•              Impressive range of over 500 km for Supro Excel CNG Duo

•              Enhanced safety feature with Anti-Roll Bar which provides stability

•              The Supro Profit Truck Excel series offers competitive pricing, with the Diesel variant priced at ?6.61 lakh (ex-showroom Bangalore) and the CNG DUO variant at Rs 6.93 lakh (ex-showroom Bangalore).

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), the market leader in Small Commercial Vehicles (SCVs) in India, proudly announces the launch of the new Supro Profit Truck Excel series, available in both Diesel and CNG Duo variants. Building on the success of the Supro platform, the Profit Truck Excel series has been designed to redefine last-mile connectivity with its superior power, exceptional style, unparalleled safety and unsurpassed comfort.

The Supro, initially launched in 2015, has emerged as a versatile platform catering to the evolving needs of customers. The Supro Profit Truck Excel series offers competitive pricing, with the Diesel variant priced at Rs 6.61 lakh (ex-showroom Bangalore) and the CNG DUO variant at Rs 6.93 lakh (ex-showroom Bangalore). Following the success of the Supro CNG Duo, which has contributed to a six-fold increase in the brand's volume, the new Supro Profit Truck Excel reinforces Mahindra's commitment to offering versatile platforms with multiple engine and fuel options, modern style, advanced safety and technology features.

Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO - Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “Mahindra's 'Rise for Value,' a pillar of our RISE philosophy, is embodied in our latest offering - the Mahindra Supro Profit Truck Excel. This launch marks a significant stride in the sub-2-tonne segment, showcasing our commitment to empowering businesses and transforming last-mile connectivity in India. The Supro Profit Truck Excel, with its exceptional 500 km range CNG Duo variant, blends power, economy, safety, and comfort, reinforcing our mission to deliver comprehensive, value-driven solutions in logistics and transportation."

R. Velusamy, President, Automotive Technology and Product Development, M&M said, "The Supro Profit Truck Excel, emerging from our renowned Supro platform, exemplifies Mahindra's unwavering commitment to technological excellence. It boasts an advanced 5-speed transmission for improved performance, reinforced chassis with increased thickness and 19% more stiffness for enhanced stability, and an anti-roll bar, setting new standards in safety. These elements are meticulously integrated to not only deliver superior performance and efficiency but also to set a new benchmark in payload capacity. This vehicle stands as a testament to our promise of providing efficient, robust, and value-driven solutions, reshaping the less than 2-tonne segment and positively impacting our customers and communities.”

The Supro Profit Truck Excel stands out with its key features, emphasizing mileage, toughness, ruggedness, and the ability to handle versatile loads efficiently. It is designed to cater to the increasing demand for volumetric goods, particularly in the rapidly growing e-commerce sector. The Supro Profit Truck Excel stands out for its best-in-class payload capacity of 900 kg (Diesel) & 750 kg (CNG Duo), enhanced safety feature with an Anti-Roll Bar which provides stability to the 2050mm wheelbase, 5-speed transmission. The Supro Excel Diesel achieves a fuel efficiency of 23.6 Km/l, while the Supro Excel CNG Duo, with a capacity of 105L, delivers an impressive 24.8 km/kg and boasts a remarkable range of over 500 km.

The new SCV is equipped with a powerful 19.4 kW Direct Injection Diesel Engine and 20.01 kW Positive Ignition CNG Engine BS6 RDE-compliant engine, providing 55 Nm and 60 Nm torque respectively. The vehicle features R13 tyres and boasts 208 mm of ground clearance, ensuring higher performance and pickup even with a full load.  The Supro Profit Truck Excel boasts a reinforced chassis with a significantly increased thickness, delivering a remarkable 19% surge in stiffness for unparalleled durability and performance. Complemented by a bolstered suspension, this truck sets a new standard for robustness and resilience.

The  ex-showroom prices for the Supro Profit Truck Excel are:

Variant                  Ex-showroom Bangalore*

Diesel                   Rs 6,61,859

CNG DUO           Rs 6,93,859

About Mahindra

Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality and real estate. 

The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise.

Learn more about Mahindra on www.mahindra.com / Twitter and Facebook: @MahindraRise/

For updates subscribe to https://www.mahindra.com/news-room.

MAHE, Celebrates Dr. Ranjan R. Pai’s Achievement: Honored With The Prestigious Paryaya Darbar Award

At a vibrant and distinguished ceremony in Udupi's Chaturtha Paryaya Mahotsav, Dr. Ranjan R. Pai, President of MAHE Trust and Chairman of Manipal Education and Medical Group was honored with the esteemed Paryaya Darbar Award. This accolade, presented during the celebrated festival led by Sri Sri Sugunendra Theertha Sripada of Sri Putige Mutt, recognizes Dr. Pai’s outstanding contributions to education and healthcare.

Dr. Pai, following in the footsteps of his parents Dr. Ramdas Pai and Vasanthi R Pai, has played a pivotal role in elevating the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) to one of India's top ten multidisciplinary universities. His visionary approach has not only garnered an 'excellence' status from the Union Ministry of Education but also expanded the institution's presence globally, with campuses in Jaipur, Jamshedpur, Sikkim, Malaysia, Dubai, and Antigua.

Under Dr. Pai's stewardship, Manipal Hospital has soared to new heights as the country’s second-largest hospital chain. Boasting over 9000 beds, the hospital network treats approximately 2 million patients every day, embodying the pinnacle of healthcare excellence. A globally recognized social entrepreneur, Dr. Pai has significantly impacted the educational landscape, benefiting millions of students and creating numerous employment opportunities. His leadership and dedication have been instrumental in the growth and success of the Manipal Education and Medical Group. Dr. Pai's journey is supported by his wife, Shrimati Shruti R. Pai, the Creative Director of the Group, and their children, Sanya and Riya. Together, they exemplify a family committed to social welfare and educational excellence.

The ceremony was further brightened by the heartfelt congratulations from Dr. HS Ballal, Pro - Chancellor of MAHE, Lt. Gen. (Dr) M. D. Venkatesh, Vice chancellor, MAHE and the entire Governing Body of MAHE Manipal, who joined in celebrating Dr. Pai’s remarkable achievement.

This prestigious award not only signifies Dr. Pai's individual excellence but also marks a moment of pride for the entire Manipal community, celebrating the legacy and future of an institution committed to shaping the world through education and healthcare.

For media inquiries and additional information, please reach out to the Deputy Director of PR and Communications at 7338625909 or via email at dpr.mu@manipal.edu