MUMBAI: Hinduja Group subsidiaries ONEOTT intertainment and In Entertainment India have announced their collective entry nto the sports ecosystem with the acquisition of the ‘Mumbai Ninjas’ franchise in the upcoming Ultimate Karate League (UKL).
Mumbai Ninjas are one of the six teams that will feature in the inaugural season of UKL, which kicks off on January 11.
Speaking on the occasion, ONEOTT intertainment and In Entertainment India CEO Yugal Kishore Sharma said: “Not only the technical rules but the business model of UKL too is also unique that guarantees a very sound eco-system for team owners. It is probably the only professional sports league in India that is setting out for 3 seasons in its inaugural year.”
Along with Mumbai Ninjas, the other teams that will feature in the first season of UKL are Bengaluru Kings, Chandigarh Fighters, Delhi Bravehearts, Kolkata Radicals and Ranchi Rebels.
The debut match will take place at Bengaluru’s Koramangala Indoor Stadium followed by its final leg at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.
With world champions and renowned national players, the UKL Ultimate Karate League will feature matches that are entertaining and action packed – appealing to all sports fans in India and across the world. UKL has signed World Champions as marquee players in each Team.
Legendary masters Sensei Ilija Jorga and Sensei Vladimir Jorga will be present during the entire season.
Sharma added: “Mumbai Ninjas Team has the World’s best fighter in Calin Marincas from Romania as its marquee player. Calin has 6 world championship titles under his belly.”
As per an official release, karate was not a spectator sport till the research & development works of Sensei Rajeev Sinha resulted in the creation of unique technical rules that are specifically structured from televisions’ perspective. Fan engagement is maximized and the new rules bring in thrilling action as never seen before in a real-time team matches, the release further states.
“The main purpose of establishing UKL was to trigger an aspirational connect amongst the existing and future karate practitioners. It is noteworthy that there are over 190 million practitioners of karate around the world who pay to learn and compete. However, the current amateur format does not provide a platform for trainees to dream of becoming Ronaldos, Dhonis or Tendulkars of karate as the rules of amateur competitions are too boring for general spectators. With UKL in place, we expect a steep rise in its following in India,” said IPKC chairman Sensei Rajeev Sinha.
UKL has opted for episodic telecast in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives and Sri Lanka over Discovery Communications branded sports channel DSport. “We preferred episodic telecasts on Sundays prime time for 18-weeks and repeat telecast on weekdays, totaling 36 days over 5 months of visibility over television,” said Sensei Sinha.
UKL has tied up with Czech Republic-based QuickMedia to broadcast UKL content to the rest of the world over its OTT platform.
Additionally, UKL has carved out a unique women empowerment program #NoMoreMeToo. “The whole world was recently engulfed in #MeToo wave. But that is merely a ‘problem statement’ and not a solution. We have revived our women empowerment project ‘Be-Your-Own-Weapon’ with #NoMoreMeToo”, added Sensei Sinha.
Each Team consists of four male and one female athletes. World and European Champions are Marquee players who were allotted to teams through Players Allocation Draw.
UKL FACTS:
Sanctioned by: Indian Professional Karate Council (IPKC)
Teams: 6 (Bengaluru Kings, Chandigarh Fighters, Delhi Bravehearts, Kolkata Radicals, Mumbai Ninjas and Ranchi Rebels)
Seasons: 3 seasons in a year (January – March – September)
1st Season Host Cities: 2 (Bengaluru, 11 – 13 January) and (Delhi, 18 – 20 January)
Broadcast Partners: Discovery Channel’s DSPORT and QuickMedia OTT
Format: Best of Three Matches
Total Number of Matches: 18
Title Track: UKL Theme Song: Rag Rag Mein
Grass-root Programs: 1. Scholarship driven CuppaSchoola Program, 2. #NoMoreMeToo “Be Your Own Weapon”
