Making the two-lapped race his own, the Afsal way
Coach Ajith Markose suggests that Afsal's quality of being 'a hybrid runner' is what makes him distinct from the other Indian athletes in the event.
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Business Standard
29 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Diageo weighs RCB stake sale as IPL hits $2 bn valuation, ad norms tighten
British spirits giant Diageo Plc is exploring the possibility of selling part or all of its stake in the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. The company, which holds the team through its Indian subsidiary United Spirits Ltd, is in early discussions with potential advisers. While no final decision has been made, the franchise could be valued at up to $2 billion. Diageo and United Spirits have not issued any public statements regarding the potential divestment. Health Ministry urges tighter ad rules on IPL ads The move comes as Diageo faces mounting regulatory pressure from the Union Health Ministry to curb indirect advertising of alcohol during major sporting events like the IPL. The company has historically leveraged soda and non-alcoholic brand extensions to maintain visibility under existing restrictions, a strategy that could soon be curtailed under stricter advertising norms. Valuation soars with RCB's commercial rise RCB, one of the original teams in the IPL) was first owned by liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya. The team later came under the control of Diageo after it took over Mallya's beleaguered spirits empire. RCB recently won its first IPL title, a major milestone that has boosted its visibility and commercial appeal. With Virat Kohli - one of the most followed athletes globally - in its ranks, RCB commands enormous market appeal, particularly across digital platforms. The potential sale comes as IPL franchise values continue to soar, thanks to the league's rapid commercial growth, bringing it on par with the NFL and English Premier League in terms of global influence and ad revenue. For Diageo, the timing may be strategic. The company is witnessing a decline in premium liquor sales in its largest market, the United States, and broader global cost pressures. Selling RCB, a non-core part of its business, could free up funds and help Diageo focus on its main operations. Health Ministry pushes to ban surrogate promotions of alcohol, tobacco The backdrop to this development includes a recent push by India's Union Health Ministry to ban all forms of alcohol and tobacco advertising, including surrogate promotions, during IPL broadcasts and related events. In March, the ministry wrote to IPL Chairperson Arun Singh Dhumal, urging a complete prohibition on such advertisements across all platforms, including television, stadiums, and affiliated venues. 'The Indian Premier League (IPL), being India's most viewed sporting event, sends a contradictory message to the public about health and fitness when it allows the direct or indirect promotion of tobacco and alcohol,' the ministry had said in a statement. The ministry also called for a ban on the sale of tobacco and alcohol products at all IPL-related events and sports facilities.
Hindustan Times
31 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Deepika Padukone and dad Prakash Padukone give update on their badminton school, to have 100 centres by year end
Actor Deepika Padukone and her badminton star dad Prakash Padukone launched Padukone School of Badminton (PSB) last year and shared an update on it via Instagram on Tuesday. Deepika launches badminton schools Deepika Padukone is the founder of the badminton school while her dad will take the role of advisor and mentor. {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} She wrote in her caption, 'As someone who grew up playing badminton, I've experienced firsthand how much this sport can shape one's life – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Through Padukone School of Badminton(PSB), we hope to bring the joy and discipline of Badminton to people from all walks of life, and build a generation that is healthier, more focused, and inspired by sport.' {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} More about the new venture {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} More details in her note reveal the PSB has 75 grassroots coaching centres across 18 Indian cities – including Bengaluru, NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Nashik, Mysuru, Panipat, Dehradun, Udaipur, Coimbatore, Sangli, and Surat – within its first year of operations. It aims to scale to 100 centres by the end of this year and 250 within the next three years. {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} More details in her note reveal the PSB has 75 grassroots coaching centres across 18 Indian cities – including Bengaluru, NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Nashik, Mysuru, Panipat, Dehradun, Udaipur, Coimbatore, Sangli, and Surat – within its first year of operations. It aims to scale to 100 centres by the end of this year and 250 within the next three years. {{/usCountry}} {{^usCountry}} Prakash Padukone, PSB's mentor and advisor, said: 'Sport is an integral part of growing up – it instils discipline, resilience, and a winning mindset that extends well beyond the court. With PSB, our goal is to make quality coaching accessible and affordable, nurture talent from the grassroots, and set a strong foundation for the future of Indian badminton.' {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} Prakash Padukone, PSB's mentor and advisor, said: 'Sport is an integral part of growing up – it instils discipline, resilience, and a winning mindset that extends well beyond the court. With PSB, our goal is to make quality coaching accessible and affordable, nurture talent from the grassroots, and set a strong foundation for the future of Indian badminton.' {{/usCountry}} {{^usCountry}} PSB works with schools, institutions, and available venues to open local training centres, which support its main Training Program at three High-Performance Centres in Bengaluru. More than 100 coaches have been trained through a standard certification program. With access to good facilities, PSB's system focuses on maintaining consistent coaching, ensuring quality, and spotting and developing talented players. {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} PSB works with schools, institutions, and available venues to open local training centres, which support its main Training Program at three High-Performance Centres in Bengaluru. More than 100 coaches have been trained through a standard certification program. With access to good facilities, PSB's system focuses on maintaining consistent coaching, ensuring quality, and spotting and developing talented players. {{/usCountry}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}} Deepika Padukone was a national-level badminton player before becoming an actor. She played the sport competitively during her school years. Deepika represented Karnataka at the state level and also competed in national tournaments. However, she eventually chose to pursue a career in modeling and acting. She is among the highest paid actors in India right now. She is married to actor Ranveer Singh and has daughter Dua with him. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON {{^userSubscribed}} {{^usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{#usCountry}} {{/usCountry}} {{/userSubscribed}}
News18
32 minutes ago
- News18
Deepika Padukone Launches New Badminton School On Dad Prakash's Birthday; Ranveer Singh Reacts
Padukone School of Badminton will establish 75 grassroots coaching centres across 18 Indian cities. Deepika Padukone and her father, Prakash Padukone, a badminton star, have launched new centres of Padukone School of Badminton (PSB). On Tuesday, the actress took to her Instagram handle and dropped an adorable picture with her father to send him birthday wishes. In the caption of her post, Deepika announced the launch of PSB and praised her father's commitment towards the sport. 'As someone who grew up playing badminton, I've experienced firsthand how much this sport can shape one's life – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Through Padukone School of Badminton(PSB), we hope to bring the joy and discipline of Badminton to people from all walks of life, and build a generation that is healthier, more focused, and inspired by sport," she wrote. 'Pappa, those who know you well, know your passion for this sport. That even at 70, all you do is eat, sleep and breathe Badminton. And we are committed to making your passion a reality: Badminton for All!" she added, as she concluded her post by sending birthday wishes to her 'pappa". View this post on Instagram A post shared by दीपिका पादुकोण (@deepikapadukone) Soon after the post was shared, Ranveer Singh, who is married to Deepika Padukone, reacted to it and dropped a smiling and a red-heart emoji in the comments box. Padukone School of Badminton will establish 75 grassroots coaching centres across 18 Indian cities, such as Bengaluru, NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Nashik, Mysuru, Panipat, Dehradun, Udaipur, Coimbatore, Sangli, and Surat, within its first year of operations. The goal is to expand to 100 centres by the end of this year and reach 250 centres within the next three years. Meanwhile, talking about Deepika Padukone, the actress will soon be sharing the screen with Allu Arjun in Atlee's next movie, which is tentatively titled AA22xA6. Recently, the makers of the film dropped a video welcoming Deepika Padukone on board. The video began with the actress discussing the script with Atlee before they got on the set and started preparing for the movie. From the video, it looked clear that Deepika Padukone will be unleashing her action avatar in AA22xA6. In the caption of the clip, the makers described Deepika as a 'queen" who is ready to 'conquer". First Published:
