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Tyger Capital and India Khelo Football (IKF) Partner to Boost Indian Grassroots Football: 100 Cities in Season 4 National Trials

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~This partnership is the biggest collaboration ever made for talent scouting in Indian Football.

July 22, Mumbai: Tyger Capital has signed a long-term collaboration with India Khelo Football (IKF), a non-profit organization aimed at connecting Indian grassroots talent to the global football ecosystem, for its Pan India Talent Hunt. This deal, claiming to be one of the most impactful collaborations ever made specifically for scouting in the Indian Football history at grassroots level, aims to boost IKF’s mission to make talent identification and selections more accessible across India. IKF Trials, the biggest football talent hunt in India, will now be called Tyger IKF Trials for consecutive seasons, including Season 4 (ongoing), covering 100 cities for under 13, under-15 and under-17 boys and girls.

Since 2021, IKF has conducted three seasons of National Trials, covering over 60+ cities & villages across India, with participation from 17000+ players. They have scouted over 350+ kids to perform at the National Finals, where multiple ISL, I-League, and international academies come together to select and further train this raw football talent. To date, 100+ players have been shortlisted for further trials by ISL, I-League clubs, and international academies, providing them with a platform to train and enhance their skills. These trials receive participation from kids of all backgrounds, bonding on the field for the love of football.

Some of these kids have shown remarkable achievements. For example, Suren Hansda from Mirudi in Jharkhand was scouted from the IKF National Finals and is currently playing for the FC Madras under-15 team. Other players like Chittransh Bam, Arjun Krishna, Jonathan Jacob are playing with Minerva Academy, FC Madras and Football School of India.

IKF partners with regional football academies, including those accredited by AIFF, to drive successful trials in each city. The scouting process goes through multiple phases with a database of player statistics with up to 25 attributes, easily accessible by scouts and players. Kids can review their performance reports with actionable insights on improving their skills through a unique digital platform.

Commenting on the achievement, Phani Bhushan – Director at India Khelo Football, said, “We are thrilled about this partnership with Tyger Capital, marking it as the biggest collaboration made in the Indian football at grassroots level. We are confident that the resources from this partnership will help us scale our efforts and services for aspiring football talent across the country.

Hitesh Joshi – Strategy & Partnerships Head at India Khelo Football further added “It’s been a remarkable journey, yielding outstanding results for previously unidentified talent pools in India. Together, we aim to reinforce our commitment to ‘Aap Khelo Mauka Hum Denge’ shaping India’s football trajectory on the global stage. On behalf of the IKF family, I want to express deep gratitude to Tyger Capital, our teams, regional and international partners, ISL, I-League clubs, the kids, and their parents, who have enabled our goals with unwavering support.”

Appreciating IKF’s efforts in uplifting India’s grassroots football ecosystem, Gaurav Gupta, Founder, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer at Tyger Capital said, “We are delighted about the partnership with India Khelo Football for their National Trials. We are excited to see the road ahead for IKF Season 4 Trials, covering 100 cities across India, and encourage kids and their parents to enroll in the trials with a chance to enhance their football careers. IKF is leveling the field for aspiring football players in India with a structured career path, and we hope that our contribution will provide further impetus to this motive & purpose.”

Amit Vatsa, Chief Growth Officer, Tyger Capital Pvt Ltd further added – “we feel proud to be part of this collaboration and IKF’s mission to scout young talents from the remotest parts of the country and provide them with opportunities to become future stars of Indian football arena. We are confident that IKF’s initiative will have a larger social impact, propelling India to have its place among football playing nations globally.”

IKF’s National Finals witness participation from renowned ISL and I-League clubs, like, Mumbai City FC, Goa FC, Kerala Blasters, Minerva, Sudeva, Delhi FC, Roundglass Punjab, Gokulam Kerala, Jamshedpur FC, etc., including international organizations like, ProSoccerGlobal, Sportsmate 360, Buckswood School UK, IFAPT Portugal, among others. Striving to build a robust grassroots football ecosystem, IKF offers PFSA (Professional Football Scouts Association) certified scouting training programs for players aspiring to become coaches. These trained scouts participate in trials to identify talent for the national finals. IKF’s international partnerships bring Premier League Academy scouts to India for workshops, conducting technical assessments and providing feedback. Selected players then showcase their skills to international academies for scholarships. For example, Mongtsu Tungoe from Nagaland received a 100% scholarship to the Steven Gerrard Academy in the UK, Shubham Navelkar recevied 100% scholarship in IFAPT Portugal alongside others who secured similar opportunities.

About Tyger Capital

Founded in 2017, Tyger Capital aims to be the leading provider of customized financial solution to micro-entrepreneurs in semi-urban and rural areas. It has built a consolidated AUM of 5000+ Cr, a network spanning more than 185 branches across nine states, and a team of over 3000 professionals, including its subsidiary, who expound its “customer-first” culture. Tyger Home Finance, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tyger Capital, was launched in 2018 to enable its customers to own their first home. It operates in 6 states across 85 branches. Tyger Capital and Tyger Home Finance have supported over 125K microentrepreneurs and first-time home owners.

About India Khelo Football (IKF)

We are a Not-for-Profit initiative aimed at uplifting the state of Football in India by providing a roadmap for our kids to become professional football players and get a chance to showcase their talent on the world stage. We are on a hunt to find exciting young Indian football players with the motto #AapKheloMaukaHumDenge. We envision creating a movement that churns out professional Football players through a democratized approach from all corners of India. We are gearing up to make Indian youth’s dreams of becoming professional Football players come true. While creating a funnel for top players, we are developing initiatives backed by international partners like ProSoccerGlobal, TFA Dubai, FCV International UK, IFAPT Portugal, Professional Football Scouts Association, SportsMate 360, among others, which will create a sustainable Football ecosystem in the country where we train the right people to find the right talent. We are preparing to become the largest feeder of Indian Football talent on the international stage.

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Robin Uthappa to Bat for SOG Grandmasters South

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Former Indian cricket star Robin Uthappa will be the face of the inaugural SOG Grandmasters Series’ South 1 Zonal Finals, an initiative of the Skillhub Online Games Federation (SOGF), scheduled for December 18-19 at the Sheraton Grand in Whitefield, Bengaluru.

Along with Uthappa’s strong star power and overwhelming response through their registrations for the online qualifiers of the southern zone championship, the tournament will celebrate exceptional talents and unearth mind sports athletes and promote excellence nationwide.

The inaugural SOG Grandmasters Series registrations indicated significant interest across all categories.

Over 55,000 players signed up for free online pre-qualifiers of Indian Rummy Grandmasters (IRG) and Indian Chess Masters (ICM), highlighting their increasing popularity as cognitive skill-based mind sports.

The top 125 from the total registered players, who played the Online Qualifiers for IRG and ICM will travel to Bangalore for the Zonal finals. In addition, the Chess for the Blind event, organised by the All-India Chess Federation for the Blind (AICFB) served as pre-qualifiers to the Indian Chess Masters for the Blind (ICMB), from which 16 top players have been shortlisted for the South Zonal Finals.

Speaking about the event, Shankar Aggarwal, President of SOGF said: “Having Robin Uthappa, a World Cup-winning cricketer known for his resilience and mental strength, represent the SOG Grandmasters South Regional Finals is a powerful way to inspire the next generation of mind sports athletes. Robin’s story of overcoming challenges and excelling on the global stage will motivate participants to aim higher, with the dream of representing India. His presence bridges traditional sports and skill-based online games, helping to popularize these disciplines and encourage more players to step forward. The overwhelming response to the Grandmasters Series reflects India’s growing passion for skill-based sports, and we are committed to creating an inclusive platform that nurtures this talent and propels it onto the global stage.”

Uthappa, a World Cup-winning cricketer known for his swashbuckling playing style, a popular TV Commentator and a strong advocate for mental health, serves as a powerful source of inspiration for the youth, as he becomes the face of the SOG Grandmasters South Regional Finals. As a champion of ethical playing and mental health and a proponent of resilience, hard work and making dreams come true, Uthappa exemplifies the values of focus, strategy, and perseverance that are essential in skill-based gaming. Speaking about the event, Uthappa said, “Mind sports are truly unique in how they celebrate cognitive skills.

The SOG Grandmasters Series is a remarkable platform that highlights the power of strategy, focus, and mental resilience—qualities I deeply value both as a cricketer and as an advocate for mental well-being. This series not only showcases exceptional talent across India, but also nurtures the competitive spirit and creates new opportunities to unearth and spotlight talent in the mind sports arena. I’m excited to be part of this initiative and am eager to witness the next generation of champions rise from such an initiative.”

The South 1 Zonal Finals will be a lan event with “phygital” experience, blending physical and digital formats under one roof. The Bengaluru event will be followed by Zonal finals in other zones, with the finalists–two from chess for Men, two from Chess for Women, two from Chess for the Blind, and six from Online Rummy in each zone – competing in the Nationals in April 2025 in New Delhi.

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Get Ready To Witness Biggest Chest Festival of India

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As millions of people eagerly anticipate the World Chess Championship match between reigning champion Ding Liren and 18-year-old Indian prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju, Chess.com, ChessBase India, Nodwin Gaming and Samay Raina are thrilled to announce that every game of the Championship will be covered live from Mumbai. The groundbreaking broadcast will feature the popular global commentator and host, International Master Tania Sachdev, the voice of Indian chess content and founder of Chessbase India, International Master Sagar Shah, and one of the biggest comedians and a prominent chess personality himself, Samay Raina.

“It’s a huge moment for India. Will Gukesh, at 18, become the youngest-ever World Champion? Will he be the one to take forward Vishy Anand’s legacy by once again bringing the title back to India, or will Ding, the reigning World Champion, prevail?” said International Master and Chess.com Commentator Tania Sachdev. “As a player, a commentator, and foremost a fan of the game, I am thrilled to be a part of this very special broadcast team. We hope to bring everyone as close as possible to the minds and emotions of two brilliant players playing for ultimate glory.”

Set at the venue Habitat, this will be a one-of-a-kind collaboration between three of the most influential voices in chess. Together, they will provide insightful commentary and analysis for audiences of all levels. Viewers can look forward to special appearances by celebrities, comedians, and chess players, adding a new twist to each day’s broadcast.

“Gukesh has achieved something that is unprecedented. The fight for the World Championship title at the age of 18 is nothing short of a celebration! A huge moment for Indian chess,” said Sagar Shah, founder of ChessBase India. “Through these 14 days, we are going to follow each and every moment of action closely and enjoy this amazing event.”

The three-week event will include a live audience, bringing the excitement of the championship directly to fans in Mumbai. The show will also be streamed simultaneously on ChessBase India and Chess24 India, ensuring fans nationwide can join in the excitement.

“Bohot Maza aayega bhai!” said Samay Raina, popular comedian and chess influencer.

With India on the cusp of its biggest chess moment in a generation, this broadcast will cover the passion and energy surrounding Gukesh’s historic journey. Fans are invited to join live in Mumbai or tune in online to witness every move, every moment, and every memory.

Event Details:

●      Dates: November 25 to December 13, 2024

●      Times: Broadcast to start at 2:30pm IST

●      Venue: Habitat

●      Commentators: Samay Raina, Sagar Shah, Tania Sachdev

●      Live Streaming: Chess24 India YouTube ChessBase India Youtube channels

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Gallant Sports Puts Tawang Stadium on the National Map

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Providing a major boost to Arunachal’s soccer program, The All-India Football Federation (AIFF) has named the high-altitude Tawang stadium in Arunachal Pradesh as a national training center, marking a huge step forward for sports in the Northeast.

This win is a point of pride for the Arunachal Pradesh Football Association (APFA), which sees it as a major boost for high-altitude training across the country. The stadium has also snagged the “FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf – FIFA Quality” certification from Labosports, a FIFA-approved lab for testing fields worldwide. With Tawang’s elevation soaring over 10,000 feet, the stadium offers a unique training ground to push athletes’ endurance and performance to new heights. APFA’s Kipa Ajay initially proposed

Tawang was a high-altitude hub for national teams, and now, with AIFF’s endorsement, it’s becoming a reality! Adding to the excitement, the nearby outdoor stadium in Jang has also earned FIFA’s “Quality” certification, cementing Tawang’s position as a top destination for high-level football.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu shared his enthusiasm on X, calling the certification “a testament to our commitment to football’s growth in the state” and stressing how great infrastructure can help unlock young talent.

Gallant Sports and infra, the driving force behind the stadium upgrade, has installed the state-of-the- art Superb 52 13PU turf in both venues. The turf’s advanced cushioning and weather-resistant backing promise a better, safer experience for players, keeping up with international standards.

Nasir Ali, CEO of Gallant Sports, shared his excitement: “This is a proud moment! At Gallant Sports, we believe in providing world-class facilities that empower athletes. The selection of Tawang’s stadium as a national training centre, along with its FIFA certification, is a transformative step. We’re thrilled to see this vision come to life, inspiring and nurturing young talent in challenging and inspiring settings.”

With its world-class certification and an upcoming marathon, Tawang is quickly shaping up as a hotbed for high-altitude sports and endurance training in India.

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