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MS Dhoni files for ‘Captain Cool’ trademark , as he join the ICC Hall of Fame

MS Dhoni, the former captain of Indian cricket team, has submitted a trademark application for ‘CAPTAIN COOL’, a nickname that reflects his leadership style.

Trade Marks Registry shows the application status as ‘accepted and advertised’, with publication in the official trademark journal on June 16. The filing was made on June 5.

The trademark registration falls under categories covering sports training, facilities, coaching and related services.

Another entity, Prabha Skill Sports (OPC) Pvt Ltd, had previously filed for the same phrase, with their application currently showing ‘rectification filed’ status.

Dhoni has recently been selected for the ICC Hall of Fame class of 2025, joining notable cricketers like Matthew Hayden from Australia and Hashim Amla from South Africa.

MS Dhoni’s legacy as one of the game’s greatest finishers, leaders and wicketkeepers has been honoured with his induction into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame,” the ICC statement had said.

Known for backing his players, trusting his gut in high-pressure moments, and maintaining an unflappable demeanour, Dhoni reshaped India’s cricketing identity.

by Team SNFYI

TB Sports Network Pvt. Ltd, the parent company of The Bridge, has announced a pivotal leadership transition. Co-founder and Director Shuvro Ghoshal has resigned, marking the end of a significant chapter in the company’s journey. Shuvro’s strategic decision is driven by his long-standing aspiration to complete his master’s degree, a goal he is on the brink of achieving in the United Kingdom. The resignation comes at a time when The Bridge is well-positioned within the sports journalism industry. Shuvro’s decision to step down is driven by his commitment to personal and professional growth. He is currently in the final stages of his master’s program and is also serving as a Board Member at a prestigious National Governing Body (NGB) in the UK.  During his tenure at The Bridge, Shuvro has elevated the brand to a leading position in sports journalism and athlete storytelling. Reflecting on his departure, he said, “Stepping down from my role at The Bridge is a bittersweet moment for me. Leading The Bridge has been an extraordinary journey. We created a platform that not only covers sports but also tells stories about athletes who inspire. I am proud of what we’ve achieved in the past five years.”  Under his leadership, The Bridge achieved significant milestones during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with record-breaking levels of engagement and interaction, which was even highlighted on X (formerly Twitter) by ex-Sports Minister of India, Kiren Rijiju. “The Bridge was founded with the vision to bring forward the voices of athletes that often go unheard. As I transition to a new chapter, I am confident that the team will continue to uphold this mission and elevate the platform to even greater heights,” Shuvro added.  In addition, Ghoshal has transferred his ownership stake in The Bridge to investor Narendra Firodia for an undisclosed amount, leading to a realignment in the company’s shareholding structure. Narendra Firodia added, “When I met Shuvro six years ago, his passion for sports was evident. The Bridge has become a leading name in the sports industry thanks to the efforts of Shuvro and Arshi. I’m confident he’s moving on to even greater achievements. I wish him all the best.” TB Sports Network Private Limited will continue to function under the leadership of investor Narendra Firodia, co-founder Arshi Yasin and dedicated team members.  Source Link

by Team SNFYI

MENATech Entertainment, the Middle East arm of the international gaming company GGTech Entertainment, has announced a remarkable growth in Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports (AUE) tournaments with over 100 teams registering in the KSA and a total of 2,194 students participating, almost a 57% growth from the last season. Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports is a global initiative operating in 26 countries, designed to integrate the diverse needs of the expanding esports industry by hosting competitions for university students. This platform not only fosters community and friendship through online and in-person events but also serves as a gateway for students to gain early professional experiences in various fields such as programming, design, marketing, and law, thus aligning with the industry’s demand for a wide range of professionals. In its commitment to expanding participation, AUE welcomed over 10 new universities from the KSA, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and broadening the talent pool within the esports community. This initiative is a global effort, with AUE impacting over 100,000 students across 26 countries and 2,600 universities. GGTech’s engagement further amplifies this reach, boasting over 600,000 registered participants across various competitions. AUE stands out by encouraging collaboration and fostering community among students through diverse games like FIFA, VALORANT, and PUBG Mobile, highlighting the platform’s role in enhancing academic and social connections. Last year, the competition solidified strategic support with companies like Shahid and Deliveroo. Hosting 85% of the gaming enthusiasts in the MENA region, AUE has placed an early bet on the KSA as an up-and-coming esports hub. The country is gearing up to solidify its position as the global epicentre of esports by hosting the Esports World Cup in the summer of 2024, and the construction of the megaproject ‘Qiddiya City Esports Arena’, the first stadium created for the immersive gaming and sports experience. The esports market in KSA, valued at $1 billion in 2021, is on a trajectory to explode to $6.8 billion by 2030. Furthermore, with the rollout of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, KSA aims to boost its GDP by about 50 billion riyals and create 39,000 new job opportunities by 2030. Mario Perez, CEO of MENA Tech Entertainment, highlights, “With the esports industry projected to reach $1.6 billion in turnover by 2024 and an expected 24.7% increase in worldwide spectatorship, the booming sector mirrors the growth within Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports. As we reflect on the triumphs of this year’s tournaments, we’re eager to deepen our collaboration with universities and their students in the KSA. The enthusiastic response by both the teams and individual participants reaffirms the increasing influence of AUE within the educational domain, showing a promising future.” In KSA and the surrounding region, the goal remains to sustain growth and extend the reach of GGTech’s endeavours to an increasing number of students for its competitions, training and educational components. Moreover, this year will witness the return of the AUE Masters, an in-person event where students from the region can exhibit their gaming skills and passion, and interact and make connections …

by Sarthak Luthra

Looking to leverage India’s burgeoning gaming ecosystem, American software company Niantic and its partner The Pokémon Company have reportedly launched their popular title ‘Pokemon GO’ in Hindi.  As per Livemint, the duo has allocated INR 125 Cr to fuel its expansion plans and will be spent on activities such as advertising and marketing for the next five years. The two plan to roll out the support for more Indian languages in a staggered manner.  Niantic’s vice-president of emerging markets Omar Tellez termed the country a massive opportunity for the gaming company.  “… India represents a massive opportunity for us—with over 500 million smartphones in the country. While we don’t expect our active user base in India to ramp up exponentially with its introduction in Hindi, it should increase approachability among the smartphone users,” Tellez said. The companies will invest INR 25 Cr every year for five years to test the Indian market and see how users respond to its offerings.  The duo aim to engage Indian audiences and leverage the growing base of  Hindi-speaking gamers in the country. With this, India has become the 10th country where Pokemon Co has launched localised content and many of the characters in the game will now feature Hindi names to increase the appeal.  “We are willing to invest because India has a strong gaming culture. While a lot of the games popular in India right now are battle-style games, we hope the adoption of ‘Pokémon Go’ will increase… Our games keep people on the move and promote a healthier lifestyle. So, we are a very different category from those games,” The Pokémon Co’s director and chief operating officer Takato Utsunomiya said. Meanwhile, the two companies plan to ‘rationalise’ the pricing of in-app purchase bundles as per the economics of the Indian market to popularise the game in the country. They have also introduced a slew of payment options, ‘typically used by Indian users’ to shore up purchases.  On the game’s monetisation strategy, Tellez said that the company discussed and experimented with a wide range of ideas, including ‘banner ads and other formats’ to build an alternate revenue stream. He, however, added that the gaming company has chosen to proceed slowly on this matter.  Meanwhile, Niantic is also said to be experimenting with a wide gamut of extended reality (XR) and metaverse technologies to make the game more interactive. However, the company expects the employment of such emerging technologies to be ‘possible in another five years.’ The Pokemon Co and Niantic join a growing list of global gaming giants that have made a beeline for India. While South Korean gaming major KRAFTON has shored up investments and products to focus on India, others such as Singaporean gaming company Garena and Chinese internet major Tencent have also re-entered India to cash in on Indian gamers.  As per a report, the Indian gaming space is projected to soar to a market size of $8.6 Bn by FY27 on the back of growing smartphone and internet penetration …