MUMBAI: The Times of India – Global Business Sports Show (GSS) 2018, one of the largest sporting events in India, is back with its third edition and will take place here from 13 December through to 15 December.
Themed ‘Enhancing India’s Sports Ecosystem’, the show caters to a B2B, B2G as well as B2C segment and will bring together leading stakeholders who are a part of the sports value chain.
Commenting on this, Deepak Lamba, president, Times Strategic Solutions Limited, said: “There is a need to have a platform that allows each one of us to deliver a dynamic mix of offerings from various industries that influence the sports management in our country. The Times of India Global Sports Show 2018 will be playing a focal role in enabling a sustainable sports ecosystem so as to create an additional positive impact in the evolutionary sports industry.”
Mohit Burman, board of directors, Dabur, said: “The ecosystem has been rapidly and positively changing. The key is to build strong brands. It would not be fully accurate to suggest it is about trend chasing. Most leagues in the major sports economies are half a century old at least. A strong product and brand can withstand all trends.”
“The current sports ecosystem is much improved as compared to the times we grew up in. The opportunities are huge, numerous sports have caught the fancy of consumers and this has opened avenues for people to contemplate a professional career in sports” said Karthik Raman, chief marketing officer, IDBI Federal.
Speaking ahead of this, Kaustubh Sonalkar, president HR, Essar Group, CEO, Essar Foundation, said: “The current sports ecosystem has seen a major paradigm change in past few years, especially in the amount of attention and interest among followers of the sports. People who used to be cricket fans are now cheering for football, kabbadi, hockey, shooting, boxing and other sports. There is a mass movement for playing more and for greater participation at national and international stage. The government is also supporting sports in a big way by promoting Khelo India program. The potential for identifying talent and nurturing sports at rural and especially tribal areas is massive.”
Confirmed advisory:
Parth Jindal, MD, JSW Cement
Boria Majumdar, renowned sports journalist, author and professor
Shashi Prabhu, founder & sr. partner, Shashi Prabhu & Associates
Dushyant Chautala, president, Table Tennis Federation of India
Om Pathak, member – Olympic Task Force, founder & chairman – School Sports Promotion Foundation, founder & chairman – Delhi Public School Ghaziabad Society
Rajesh Kalra, chief editor, Times Internet and member of Olympic Task Force
Rohan Bopanna, Indian tennis player
Narendra Sopal, working president, School Games Federation of India
Vita Dani, chairperson, 11Even Sports, promoter, ELMS Foundation, co-owner, Chennaiyin F.C.
Abhinav Bindra, former Indian Olympic shooter and founder, Abhinav Bindra Targeting Performance
Confirmed speakers:
Niraj Bajaj, promoter director – Bajaj Group, board of directors – Bajaj Auto Ltd, Bajaj Allianz Life and General Insurance, chairman of Jamnalal Sons and Bachhraj & Company, CMD Mukand Limited
Santosh Nair, president & chief business officer, DHFL
Giriraj Mall, director, Mallcom
Deepthi Bopaiah, executive director, GoSports Foundation
Kaustubh Sonalkar, president HR, Essay Group and CEO, Essay Foundation
Jose Antonio Cachaza, country manager, India, LaLiga
Jayen Mehta, MD, Amul Dairy
Tuhin Mishra, MD & co-founder, Baseline Ventures
Supartik Sen, CEO, Unilazer Sports, co–founder, U Sports| Global Sports Marketing Forum
Ranjit Shahani, former vice chairman & MD, Novartis India Ltd., vice chairman & president, Swiss-Indian Chamber of Commerce
Akshat Rathee, MD, Nodwin Gaming
Rahul Sarangi, co-founder & director, Greymatter Entertainment
Rishi Narain, MD, RN Sports Marketing, former professional golfer and Asian Games Gold medallist
Aneesh, GM, Ten Cent
Srinvvasan Gopalkrishnan, Group head Marketing and Strategy, Reliance
Anand Datla, head Impact, Tata Trusts
Shrinivas Dempo, CMD, Dempo Group
Mohit Burman, board of directors, Dabur
Albert Almeida, COO, Non-Movies, BookMyShow
Vinit Karnik, Business head – Entertainment, Sports & Live Events, ESP Properties
Harish Jain, co-founder & CEO, Dream 11
Rajesh Kaul, chief revenue officer – Distribution and head – Sports, Sony Entertainment
Indranil Das Blah, founding partner KWAN and CEO Mumbai City FC
Rajeev Khanna, vice president, Rajasthan Royals
Mukul Choudhari, CEO, Jamshedpur FC
Prashant Prabhakar, co-founder & CEO, SoStronk
Heath Matthews, head of Sports Science and Medicine, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital & Research Institute
Ashish Chadha, CEO, Sporty Solutionz
Rajan Navani, vice chairman & MD, JetSynthesys
Rishi Joshi, founder, Sports For All
Andreas Kufner, head of International Brand Management, FC Bayern
Dato’ Windsor John, general secretary, Asian Football Confederation
Colin Gibson, director – Communications, Asian Football Confederation
Peer Niclas Naubert, head of Global Marketing, Digital & Communications, Bundesliga International
Prof. Dr. Matthias Lochmanns, chair of Sport Biology and Movement Medicine, Department Sports Science and Sport- Germany
Julien Denis, CEO, Exerlights
Nicolas Evans, Group leader Football Quality Programme, FIFA
Ashish Shah, CEO, Delhi Dynamos FC
GSS 2018 is a platform for the exchange of ideas, concepts, case studies and reflections that address sports industry local needs and global issues. The event aims at educating about the development of new skills of sports industry professionals and those who are eager to associate with sports and establishing specific insights into the role of sports in today’s business world.
