Hinduja Group forays into Sports Leagues by becoming owners of "Mumbai Ninjas"

Hinduja Group’s ONEOTT iNTERTAINMENT and IN ENTERTAINMENT INDIA are now the proud owners of the “Mumbai Ninjas” – the Mumbai Franchise in the Ultimate Karate League (UKL). Mumbai Ninjas are one of the six teams that shall feature in the first season of the UKL Ultimate Karate League starting on 11th January, 2019.

Yugal Kishore Sharma, CEO of Hinduja Group’s ONEOTT iNTERTAINMENT and IN ENTERTAINMENT INDIA, says, “Not only the technical rules, the business model of UKL too is unique that guarantees a very sound ecosystem 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 shall feature in the first season of UKL are Bengaluru Kings, Chandigarh Fighters, Delhi Bravehearts, Kolkata Radicals and Ranchi Rebels. The debut match is all set to 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.

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 the televisions’ perspective. Fan-engagement is maximized and the new rules bring in thrilling action as never seen before in a real-time team matches.

Sensei Rajeev Sinha, Chairman of IPKC, comments, “The main purpose of establishing UKL was to trigger an aspirational connects 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 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.”

UKL has tied up with Czech Republic-based QuickMedia to broadcast UKL content to the rest of the world over its OTT platform.