Category: sports

Flawless Victory: India Defeats South Africa 5-0 in Blind Cricket Series at Sathya Sai Grama

Bengaluru, 17 May 2025:  In a thrilling display of grit, skill, and sportsmanship, India swept South Africa 5-0 in the Second Edition of the Samarth Blind Cricket Championship, held from 12–16 May 2025 at the prestigious Sai Krishnan Stadium, Sathya Sai Grama, Karnataka. Organised by the Hyundai Motor India Foundation under its flagship ‘Samarth’ initiative, the championship reaffirmed the power of inclusive sport in uniting communities and empowering persons with disabilities. Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai – Founder, Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission, Mr Jae-Young (JT) Park – Executive Director, Hyundai Motor Company, Dr H C Mahadevappa – Minister of Social Welfare, Government of Karnataka, Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar – Founding Managing Trustee, Samarthanam Trust and Chairman, CABI, Prakash Padukone – Former All England Badminton Champion, Syed Kirmani – Former India Wicketkeeper and 1983 World Cup Winner, and Syed Naseer Hussain – Member of Rajya Sabha were the distinguished guests for the event.

In the final match, South Africa set a competitive target of 142/6 in 20 overs, led by Lesedi N Lesufi’s solid knock of 54 (47). India chased it down in just 13 overs, driven by stellar innings from Lalprasad Soren (62 off 41) and Captain T Durga Rao (60 off 35). With two key wickets and a half-century, Durga Rao was named Player of the Match.

The five-day tournament culminated in a vibrant closing ceremony that celebrated India’s unbeaten run and highlighted the spirit of resilience and excellence in blind cricket.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Team India on this remarkable victory. This stadium was envisioned and built for moments like these—to champion sports and celebrate the true spirit of sportsmanship. Our ancient scriptures teach us that it is not those without eyes who are blind, but those without vision. Samarthan Trust and Hyundai exemplifies a noble vision by creating a space where individuals with physical challenges are not just included, but empowered and celebrated. This is the true essence of an inclusive society”, remarked Sri Madhusudan Sai.

Sai Krishnan Stadium—the venue partner—played a pivotal role in this international event. A full-fledged, international-standard cricket facility, the stadium boasts a larger pitch than Bengaluru’s famed Chinnaswamy Stadium, featuring a 70-metre radius, three pitches, automatic irrigation systems, and a seating capacity of 9,000 across four grandstand galleries spread over 10,000 sq. ft.

Beyond cricket, the complex includes world-class facilities for tennis, basketball, volleyball, and futsal—all built to international specifications with synthetic flooring. Sai Krishnan Stadium has previously hosted marquee events like the One World One Family (OWOF) Cup in 2024 and 2025, graced by cricketing legends including Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Muttiah Muralitharan, Irfan Pathan, and Chaminda Vaas.

Strat-O-Matic Fans Gather at Mets House NYC for a Sunday of Classic Baseball Action

Strat-O-Matic Club Members, Players To Participate in ‘Strat Takeover’ of Union Square Mets-Themed Activities, Retail, Event Space All Day; Founder Hal Richman Scheduled to Appear; Strat Plays off 1986 vs. 2025 Mets Series

GLEN HEAD, N.Y., and NEW YORK, May 2, 2025—Strat-O-Matic, the market leader in sports simulations, and Mets House N.Y.C., the Union Square, Manhattan space with Mets- and baseball-themed special events, family activities, merchandise and more, are excited to announce that this Sunday, May 4, will “take over” the location from 11 a.m through the afternoon for open Strat-O-Matic play, prize giveaways, meet-and-greets with Strat-O-Matic founder Hal Richman and other staff, and more.

Strat-O-Matic Clubs, which for over two years have been operating across the nation, and other avid and new Strat-O-Matic players, will be participating in the celebration of their favorite game. There will be a selection of Mets and other Strat-O-Matic teams for players of all levels to play, as well as the new Baseball MAX online version and Baseball Express for kids available for free play. Players are encouraged to bring their own favorite teams as well.

And just how good is this year’s Mets team compared to the great squads of the past? Strat-O-Matic simulated a seven-game series between the 2025 Mets and the best team ever to take the field in Queens, the 1986 Mets. Ray Knight hit .375 and Mookie Wilson and Keith Hernandez both hit .333 as the ‘86 squad won in seven, rallying for two in the bottom of the 10th to win, 4-3, in the decisive contest, on a game-tying error by Luisangel Acuña on a grounder by Kevin Mitchell followed by Knight’s run-scoring single for the walk-off win.

There is no admission or game fee on Sunday, just a great opportunity for Mets and other baseball fans to meet other Strat-O-Matic players, get up games with new friends and even stay to watch the television coverage of the Mets vs. St. Louis on the big screen on Sunday afternoon.

Interested fans can contact stratclub@strat-o-matic.com if they want to match up with other players beforehand, or just walk-in and grab an available seat on Sunday.

About Strat-O-Matic

Strat-O-Matic was invented by 11-year-old Hal Richman in his bedroom in Great Neck, N.Y. in 1948 as a result of his frustration with the statistical randomness of other baseball board games. He discovered that the statistical predictability of dice would give his game the realism he craved. Over the next decade, he perfected the game at summer camp and then as a student at Bucknell University. After producing All-Star sets in 1961 and ‘62, he parlayed a $5,000 loan from his father (and made a deal that if it didn’t work out he would work for his father’s insurance company) into the original 1962 Strat-O-Matic Baseball season game. Needless to say, Hal never had to take a job with his father.

Strat-O-Matic, based in Glen Head, NY and on the Internet at www.strat-o-matic.com, manufactures the top selling sports board games and realism/stats sports digital games. The Company publishes baseball, football, basketball and hockey games to play both on and off your computer and mobile screens. “Strat-O” games are known throughout the sports community for their statistical realism and accuracy. The Company has the world’s greatest sports game stat libraries with top-of-the-line seasons dating back to the early 1900’s. At the start of the 2016 MLB season, Strat-O-Matic introduced Baseball Daily, its first product featuring digital player cards that update every day to reflect real life current player performance as the season progresses.

The Company has a loyal celebrity following including a bevy of sports broadcasters such as Bob Costas, Jon Miller, Tim Kurkjian and Dan Shulman, former MLB’ers Keith Hernandez, Doug Glanville and Cal Ripken Jr., and sports super fans including Drew Carey, Ben Bernanke, Bryant Gumbel, Spike Lee and Tim Robbins. More information is available at: www.strat-o-matic.com.

Kitman Labs to Power Player Health and Performance Data for Entire United Super League

Menlo Park, California, and Tampa, Florida (April 30, 2025) – Kitman Labs, the global enterprise SaaS company delivering the only fully centralized operating system for performance intelligence in elite sports, today announced a new partnership with the United Soccer League (USL) that will see all eight clubs competing in the USL Super League deploy the Performance Medicine Solution in Kitman Labs’ iP: Intelligence Platform.

Now in its inaugural season following an August 2024 launch, the USL Super League is operated by the United Soccer League and marks a new era for women’s professional soccer in North America. Through this league-wide partnership, each club will leverage a centralized and configurable medical operating system that enables the aggregation and activation of all player health data.

The Performance Medicine Solution—one of four core solutions within iP: Intelligence Platform—is the only system natively built to integrate both medical and performance data into a single, comprehensive platform. This will give member clubs a real-time, 360° view of their respective players from a health and readiness perspective while generating insights to improve athlete welfare, reduce injury risk, and drive performance outcomes through actionable intelligence.

Key capabilities powered by Performance Medicine for USL Super League clubs include:

Standardized league-wide medical documentation and data collection – eliminating gaps and inconsistencies while supporting club-level configurability and compliance.

Cross-department collaboration – aligning medical and performance teams to support evidence-based decisions around player health, care, and wellness.

Operational efficiency – enabling practitioners to spend less time on admin and more time on athlete treatment and development.

Comprehensive, consistent datasets – laying the foundation for league-wide research, injury surveillance, and innovation.

All staff, coaches, and practitioners from across the eight Super League clubs will utilize the shared platform as a single source of truth. The resulting analytics will help inform data-led, evidence-based decisions on and off the pitch.

“We have the opportunity to build a cutting-edge data and analytics infrastructure from the ground up—a secure, fully integrated and scalable platform that benefits the league, the clubs, and most importantly, the athletes,” said Amanda Vandersort, USL Super League President. “With this system in place, our medical and performance staff can make better decisions around injury prevention, rehab, return to play, load management, and overall athlete care.”

“We’re proud to partner with the USL Super League in its inaugural season and be part of this defining moment for women’s professional soccer,” said Stephen Smith, CEO and Founder of Kitman Labs. “The league has a clear vision for innovation—prioritizing player health, performance, and longevity. With iP: Intelligence Platform, the USL has the foundation to scale and unify medical data management and analytics, equipping every club with the technology and intelligence needed to make data-informed decisions and elevate athlete care.”

The league’s eight inaugural clubs—Brooklyn FC, Carolina Ascent FC, Dallas Trinity FC, DC Power FC, Fort Lauderdale United FC, Lexington SC, Spokane Zephyr FC, and Tampa Bay Sun FC—are competing for the championship, set to be decided in June.

Kitman Labs has an established track record of working with top leagues, governing bodies, teams, and athletes across 26 countries and multiple sports, including soccer, basketball, rugby, and American football. The company’s technology is currently used by more than 2,000 teams and organizations, including the NFL, NBA, MLS, NWSL, Unrivaled, Premier League, and NCAA.

iP: Intelligence Platform represents the industry’s largest dataset of talent, performance, and medical data, supporting every stage of the athlete lifecycle.

Zero Gravity Dominates Indus International Powerplay, Books LAN Finale Slot

Pune, India 16th April 2025: SuperGaming, India’s leading game developer, has successfully concluded the Powerplay Phase of the Indus International Tournament (IIT), the country’s premier grassroots-to-global esports showcase for its Indo-Futuristic battle royale, Indus.

The Powerplay Phase witnessed intense competition among professional esports teams from over 100 organizations. Teams battled fiercely on the map of Virlok, delivering high-stakes gameplay, demonstrating exceptional skill and strategic prowess. With ₹25 Lakhs up for grabs in this leg alone, the pressure was high — and performances, unforgettable.

Team Zero Gravity emerged as the champions of the Powerplay Phase, walking away with ₹10 Lakhs in winnings. The squad’s standout performer and Captain [ZG]SGOD – Sandeep Pandey earned the coveted MVP title, racking up 37 kills and 21,747 damage – an impressive stat line. He was awarded ₹1 Lakh for his outstanding performance.

Powerplay Phase Winners Announced:

Following weeks of intense competition, the teams emerging victorious from the Powerplay Phase are:

1. Team Zero Gravity – ₹10,00,000

2. Marcos Gaming – ₹4,00,000

3. Likitha Esports – ₹3,00,000

4. Heatbeast Esports – ₹2,50,000

5. Golden Hornet – ₹1,75,000

6. 4Ever Esports – ₹1,25,000

7. Autobotz Esports – ₹1,00,000

8. Blind Esports – ₹50,000

These 8 teams have now secured their spots in the upcoming Indus International Tournament LAN Finale, competing for the Champions Trophy and a ₹2 Crore prize pool. The LAN event is set for 18th May, 2025 at Drome Arena, Pune.

One Final Shot: The Last Chance Qualifier

For those still dreaming of the LAN stage, SuperGaming has opened The Final Portal. This is a last-chance qualifier offering one additional spot at the LAN Finale. Registrations are open until 16 April, 5:00 PM IST, with matches kicking off on 19 April, 2:00 PM IST.

Interested players can now form their squad, gear up, and register HERE.

Rising Stars. Real Careers.

More than just competition, the Indus International Tournament is becoming a launchpad for a new generation of Indian esports athletes. The tournament structure is designed to nurture grassroots talent and elevate India’s presence in global esports. For many, this is more than a trophy — it’s the start of a real career in competitive gaming.

Roby John, CEO and Co-Founder, SuperGaming, says,

“At SuperGaming, we’re building a gaming and esports ecosystem made in India—for India and the world. With Indus, we’re rethinking the traditional esports playbook by focusing on grassroots tournaments, creator-led events, and co-ownership opportunities that turn players and fans into real stakeholders.

Instead of chasing unsustainable models, we’re building a community-first framework that drives engagement, retention, and monetization—from in-game items to merch and transmedia content. Esports isn’t just a competitive format for us—it’s a storytelling engine where real-world players become heroes as part of the game’s evolving universe.

We believe India has a unique opportunity to lead the next wave of global gaming—and we’re laying the foundation to make that happen.”

Tournament Highlights:

• The Indus International Tournament features four progressive phases: Homegrown, Nationals, Powerplay, and International, designed to reflect India’s diverse player base and competitive ecosystem.
• Homegrown Phase: Showcased rising grassroots talent. Team Rogue, DGE, and Moggers qualified for the LAN Finale.
• The National Phase concluded with Team Esports Battleground and Brazil-based organisation Team 4Magic advancing to the LAN Finale.
• Kadiliman Esports from the Philippines is set to represent international talent at the LAN Final.
• The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Indus International Tournament LAN finale will be awarded a custom Mahindra Thar*.

SuperGaming is thrilled with the overwhelming response and the level of competition seen throughout the tournament. With top teams, passionate fans, and leading creators heading to Pune, the Indus International Tournament LAN Finale is set to become one of India’s most defining esports events. This isn’t just a finale — it’s where the country’s next esports champions will rise.

SportsSkill Kicks Off 2025 with Major Growth Plans, New Investments, and Strategic Expansion

Pune, 14/04/2025 : At the heart of its 2025 vision, SportsSkill stands by an unwavering belief: that world-class training guidance should be accessible to athletes everywhere. Driven by this philosophy, the company is poised to unveil a new wave of innovative features designed to digitally transcend geographical boundaries and deliver elite-level coaching experiences. This strategic evolution marks a significant leap toward democratising high-performance sports training, paving the way for global scalability. With it comes immense potential—not only to impact lives through sport, but also to unlock substantial commercial value for all stakeholders involved.

SportsSkill, a leading sports tech-as-a-service company, is entering the new year with ambitious plans to reshape the future of athletic training. Backed by a fresh round of investments and a robust growth strategy, the company is set to scale new heights through international expansion and groundbreaking collaborations.

At the forefront of this transformation is the unveiling of SportsSkill’s latest innovation—a state-of-the-art, high-performance gamified training center, the first of its kind. This unique facility seamlessly blends serious training with gamification, offering athletes an immersive experience that enhances fitness, hones technique, and builds competitive spirit—all in a fun, engaging environment. Designed to push limits while maintaining peak efficiency and measurable outcomes, the center marks a significant step in delivering real-world, hands-on training to complement the company’s robust digital ecosystem.

Looking ahead, one of the major milestones for 2025 will be SportsSkill’s expansion into international markets during the second half of the year. This strategic move aims to introduce its advanced, AI-powered sports training application to a global audience. With a strong foundation in India, the company now aims to make high-performance, personalised training accessible to athletes around the world, regardless of location or level of play.
With its integrated approach that combines on-ground training innovation with digital intelligence, SportsSkill is well-positioned to become a key global player in the evolving sports training ecosystem.

“We are incredibly excited about what 2025 holds for SportsSkill,” said Chetan Desai, Co-Founder of SportsSkill. “The international expansion is just the beginning. Our new gamified center, collaborations with schools, and enhanced R&D efforts are all geared toward one goal: empowering athletes everywhere with the tools they need to perform at their best. This is a huge leap forward in our mission to transform the world of sports training.”

“Our goal for this year is to bring next-gen sports training to even more athletes,” said Abhinav Sinha, Co-Founder of SportsSkill. “Whether it is through expanding the number of sports available on the app, working closely with educational institutions, or providing a gamified training experience at our new center, we are fully committed to making world-class athletic training accessible to all. Our new B2B2C approach will allow us to scale even faster and offer customized solutions that cater to the unique needs of various sectors in the sports ecosystem.”

Alongside its physical and digital expansions, SportsSkill is strengthening collaborations with schools and organizations across India. Recognizing the critical role of grassroots development, the company is committed to empowering the coaches and teachers who form the backbone of our sporting ecosystem. By integrating AI-driven training solutions into educational institutions, SportsSkill is enabling young athletes to access advanced tools from an early age. This initiative aims to shape the future of Indian sports by equipping the next generation with the skills and support they need to thrive.

SportsSkill will also be focusing heavily on research and development throughout 2025. The company plans to add more sports to its app, enhancing its offering to cater to a wider variety of athletes. This expansion of the app’s capabilities will further solidify SportsSkill as a one-stop platform for personalised training across multiple sports disciplines. Additionally, SportsSkill will shift to a B2B2C model in the second half of 2025, enabling the company to collaborate more closely with sports organisations, educational institutions, and businesses to offer tailored training solutions.

playR Expands Its Cricketing Legacy with Power-Packed Partnerships Across Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, and Sunrisers Hyderabad for 2025 Season

Mumbai, 14th April 2025: In a step forward towards impacting Indian sports ecosystem, playR has partnered with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as their Official Merchandise Partner for the 2025 season.

Under the merchandise agreement, playR will manage the production, sales and marketing of the merchandise for the franchises.

With millions of followers, the objective is to reach the fan through omni-channel presence and affordability, which is the speciality of iCOREts Private Limited – Parent company of the brand playR. The initial few weeks off-take and engagement is impressive and garnered a traction of over 30k units.

Ravi Kukreja, the Founder of playR and the Director of iCOREts Private Limited remarked “This is a momentous milestone for playR. Partnering with three of the heavy-lifters CSK, GT and SRH will help us build advanced added values further delivering the fans experience.’

A New Era of Fan Fashion & Functionality.

playR – CSK, GT, and SRH merchandise will be available across all offline leading stores and Online E-com and Q-com globally.

Cougars Survive Slugfest to Keep BCL Title Hopes Alive

MEXICO CITY – In another high-scoring affair, the Kane County Cougars outlasted the Leñadores de Las Tunas of Cuba 19-15 to advance to the Baseball Champions League Americas 2025 Semifinals. The victory completed a perfect 2-0 run through Group B of the BCL in the round robin portion of the tournament.

After a 16-14 win on Tuesday, today’s game featured even more offense. The two teams combined for 34 runs and 42 hits. Shed Long Jr. led the way for the Cougars (2-0), finishing the day 4-for-6 with a home run, double and five RBI. Dayson Croes came through with a four-hit ballgame after his 6-for-6 performance in the BCL opener. In total, six different players collected at least three hits for Kane County.

The Cougars jumped out to a big lead in the bottom of the second. Facing Las Tunas (1-1) starter Albert Vallardes, Brantley Bell started the rally with a single through the left side before Josh Allen worked a walk. After a fielder’s choice put runners at the corners, Armond Upshaw hit a hard ground ball that was mishandled to bring home Allen and make it 1-0. Following Upshaw, Long Jr. crushed a mammoth, three-run homer to right field to make it 4-0. Long’s home run travelled an astounding 471 feet.

Later in the second, the Cougars struck via the long ball again. Following a Max Murphy single, Dillon Thomas belted a two-run shot to right field to make it a 6-0 lead. Allen capped the scoring in the inning with a two-run bloop double off Keniel Ferraz to give Kane County an eight-run advantage.

However, Las Tunas quickly responded to the big inning. Yosvany Alcaron got Las Tunas on the board with a two-run single off Cougars’ starter Chris Mazza to make it 8-2.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars added to the lead via another big fly. To lead off the inning, Bell stroked another single. Two batters later, Hayden Dunhurst homered just inside the foul pole down the right field line to give the Cougars a 10-2 edge.

Following a Las Tunas run in the top of the fifth, Todd Lott flared an opposite field single that put the Cougars lead back to eight runs at 11-3.

In the top of the sixth, Las Tunas responded in a big way. The Cuban champions put up eight runs in the inning to tie the game at 11. Yosvany Alarcorn and Roberto Baldoquin each had two-run doubles before Yordany Alarcorn delivered the tying hit on an RBI single.

The Cougars struck right back in the bottom of the sixth. Dayson Croes got the scoring started with an RBI single off Dariel Gongora De La Torre. After Frank Medina entered on the mound, Max Murphy welcomed him with a run-scoring double to make it 13-11. Kane County added one more run in the frame on a Thomas groundout to go in front 14-11.

Las Tunas continued to go punch-for-punch with the Cougars, striking for three in the top of the seventh. Luis Vicente Mateo cracked a two-run double to right center to pull the Leñadores within a run. Yoelkis Guibert then tied the game with a single through the middle that made it 14-14. Daniel Bies (1-0) recorded the final out of the seventh to send the game to the stretch level at 14.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Cougars went back in front for good. With runners at first and second, Long Jr. delivered an opposite field double off Medina to put Kane County back ahead 16-14. Two batters later, Murphy ripped a triple to center field to score Long Jr. and stretch the lead to 17-14. The Cougars went on to add two more runs on singles by Thomas and Lott to make it a 19-14 advantage.

Following the five-run inning, Cougars’ reliever Jake Gozzo came through with a huge top of the eighth. Aided by a double play, the right-hander worked around a single to toss a scoreless inning and preserve the five-run lead. The scoreless inning was the first half inning without a run in the ballgame since the top of the fourth.

For a second straight game, George Tsamis turned to Tyler Beardsley to record the final three outs. Although Beardsley surrendered a solo homer to Roel Santos, he retired Rafael Viñales for the final out to secure the 19-15 victory.

The Cougars next take the field on Saturday, April 12th in a BCL Semifinal Matchup. Live coverage will air on Ryz Network, the Unbeaten Channel, Fubo Sports Network and AABaseball.TV.

By Conor Clingen of the Kane County Cougars

2024-25 Fans’ Choice Awards Announced by SPL — It’s Time to Vote

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 10 April 2025: The Saudi Pro League (SPL) announced on Wednesday the launch of the inaugural SPL Fans’ Choice Awards for the 2024-25 season.

The vote-based awards are designed by the SPL to engage Roshn Saudi League (RSL) fans in shaping the legacy of players, clubs and the competition, while boosting competitiveness on and off the pitch.

Players and clubs will compete in six vote-based categories, where RSL fans will vote over the course of the season and in season-end polls. Two further categories will be decided based on selection by relevant SPL departments from shortlists. Winners across all categories will be announced after the conclusion of the 2024-25 season and following the completion of the voting process.

Award Categories:

Vote-based Awards:

Goal of the Season: Fans vote for the winning goal out of a shortlist consisting of the 34 winners of the BSF Goal of the Week award.

Skill of the Season: Fans vote for the winning skill out of a shortlist consisting of 34 skills: 29 winners of the Skill of the Week award, launched on Matchweek 6 of the ongoing season, joined by five skills from the opening five matchweeks, nominated by the SPL team.

Save of the Season: Fans vote for the winning save out of a shortlist consisting of 34 skills: 26 winners of the Save of the Week award, launched on Matchweek 9 of the season, joined by eight saves from the opening eight matchweeks, nominated by the SPL team.

Fans’ Player of the Season: The award is given to the player with the most “Man of the Match” awards in the 2024-25 season. Fans vote for “Man of the Match” award from a shortlist of eight players: the four highest rated from each team based on the proprietary SPL Performance Index available on the official SPL website and app. Polls start at the 80th minute of every RSL match and remain open for 25 minutes.

Tifo of the Season: Representatives of each RSL club nominate one tifo – a choreographed display held up by club fans, typically pre-match – by their supporters at the end of the 2024-25 season, with fans voting at the conclusion of the season for their favourite tifo.

Moment of the Season: Representatives of each RSL club nominate one moment related to their club at the end of the 2024-25 season, with fans voting at the conclusion of the season for their favourite moment.

Recognition Awards:

CSR Initiative of the Season: At the end of the 2024-25 season, representatives of each RSL club nominate one Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative delivered by their club, with the SPL team selecting three winners for the gold, silver and bronze awards.

Sports Personality of the Season: At the end of the 2024-25 season, representatives of each RSL club and key media outlets nominate one person for the award, presenting their rationale for the nomination, with the SPL team announcing the nominees and selecting the winner.

The SPL is also set to announce the launch of its inaugural season awards for 2024-25, covering several categories designed to reward the best-performing players and coaches at the end of the campaign.

Mark Your Calendars! The First-Ever Sports Memorabilia Day is Here

April 1, 2025: Sports fans and memorabilia collectors are adding a special date to their diaries this month, with the announcement of Sports Memorabilia Day, a new celebration to be held annually on the 27th of April.

Sports Memorabilia Day will champion the incredible world of sports fans and collectors, giving recognition to the joy of collecting and the items of sporting history that people have obtained. Fans, collectors, athletes and brands are being encouraged to take part in the celebration by sharing their prized collections using the hashtag #sportsmemorabiliaday on their social media platform of choice.

By showcasing their cherished items and recalling fond memories, fans will have a fresh way to show their connection to their favourite sports – as well as engaging with teams, athletes, brands and businesses across the sporting landscape through social media interactions and exclusive competitions.

From one cherished item held onto since attending a specific event, to a collection of pieces built over years of searching, fans of every sport are being encouraged to share the items they proudly own. No matter the size or the commercial value, whether its signed, framed or worn – every piece of memorabilia tells its own unique story.

Of the many unique days adopted across the social media calendar each year, there was previously no specific representation for sports memorabilia. That is why Memento Exclusives has decided to launch the special day in 2025.

CEO and Founder, Barry Gough, is an ex-F1® number one mechanic who worked with BAR, Jordan and Simtek. During his time trackside, Gough recognised a demand for memorabilia and race used products and decided to fulfil the gap in the market for fans and collectors. Today, his company has become the officially licensed memorabilia partner to the likes of F1®, MotoGP™, UFC, Team GB and more.

The date of April 27th has been chosen for the celebration to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the business bringing fans closer to the sports they love.

Joe Cuffaro, Head of Marketing & PR at Memento Exclusives said, “Every sports fan has emotional investment in the items they own, whether it relates to an individual athlete or a supported team. By offering a platform to share these stories, Sports Memorabilia Day will forge connections and foster communities through a globally shared love of sports. Our aspiration is for this to become a globally recognised event, where people across the world can share the joy of collecting moments of sporting history, meet new likeminded people and gain inspiration for starting and adding to existing collections.

“We have had a fantastic reaction to the concept so far and we are looking forward to seeing some of the unique collections our customers and sports fans around the world choose to share on the big day.”

The first ever Sports Memorabilia Day will be held on 27th April 2025.

Anyone who shares a picture or video of their own sporting item or collection on social media using #sportsmemorabiliaday on April 27th, will be in with a chance of winning exclusive memorabilia prizes.

Charlotte Whitby-Coles Elevated as Chief Operating Officer of the World Pickleball League

Mumbai, March 25, 2025 – In a move that reinforces WPBL’s structured and strategic approach, the league has announced the elevation of Charlotte Whitby-Coles as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). Having played a pivotal role in player scouting, management, and relations during WPBL’s inaugural season—along with her on-ground expertise—Charlotte was instrumental in ensuring a seamless, world-class sportainment experience in the recently culminated inaugural season.

In her new role as COO, she will drive strategy along with overseeing operations, production, and execution, rewarding her contribution. Gaurav Natekar, Co-Founder and CEO of WPBL, said, “Charlotte has brought tremendous value to WPBL, ensuring our first season delivered on its promise of top-tier pickleball action on the court and unmatched entertainment off it. Her career spans multiple fields, including sports and entertainment, with extensive experience in tennis, pickleball, film production, and academia. This unique, holistic perspective makes her the ideal choice to lead WPBL to even greater heights. Women make up 40% of the pickleball community of India and throughout the world and are an integral part of the sport. We are committed to integrating more women into every aspect of pickleball, and having Charlotte taking on leadership role in the WPBL is reflective of how we can achieve this goal and promote the inclusion of women in the sport.”

As a former tennis player, Charlotte has spent over 17 years running a tennis and pickleball academy in Panchgani, introducing the sport to schools and expanding grassroots participation. She grew up playing tennis in the UK, playing at an U18 national level and college tennis, which has provided her with a strong foundation in competitive sport and athlete management. Her understanding of player management and engagement has been integral in curating a diverse and competitive talent pool for WPBL.

Reflecting on her new role, Charlotte Whitby-Coles said, “I have known Gaurav and Arati for a long time now and we share a great respect for each other as friends and professionals. I have witnessed at close quarters their impressive ability to execute their vision and ideas successfully, and the grand scale of season 1 was testament to that. The journey so far has been amazing, so the decision to accept this new role was an easy one. I am truly grateful and honoured for the opportunity and trust bestowed upon me and I look forward to working with Gaurav and Arati and the whole team at WPBL to make Season 2 even bigger and better.”

WPBL’s first season, held in Mumbai from January 24 to February 2, showcased top international talent with Bengaluru Jawans being crowned champions.