Dubai-based entrepreneur reimagining live sports on sea and land

Special Dubai-based entrepreneur reimagining live sports on sea and land
UAE-based entrepreneur Adi Mishra, left, has partnered with Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, center, to launch Team Blue Rising and, right, CEO of UIM E1 World Championship Rodi Basso. (Blue Rising)
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Updated 23 November 2023
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Dubai-based entrepreneur reimagining live sports on sea and land

Dubai-based entrepreneur reimagining live sports on sea and land
  • Adi K Mishra, founder of League Sports Co., has partnered with cricket legend Virat Kohli to co-own Team Blue Rising in all-electric raceboat series
  • In 2024, LSC is also set to launch the World Bowling League in partnership with the International Bowling Federation

There are few elite live sports that have failed to become even more popular in the virtual world of esports.

The online gaming industry is today worth hundreds of billions of dollars and now dwarfs the film industry and many sporting ones. The trend is only set to continue in one direction.

Which is why it might seem counterintuitive for Adi K Mishra, UAE-based entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of League Sports Co., a sports tech holding company, to move into the what he calls “real world sports assets.”

Alongside Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli, Mishra is now set to lead Blue Rising in the PIF-backed UIM E1 World Championship, the world’s first all-electric raceboat series.

The team will compete against the electric RaceBird teams announced by Tom Brady, Rafael Nadal, Steve Aoki, Didier Drogba and Sergio Perez in the inaugural season kicking off in Jeddah on Feb. 2-3.

Mishra said: “The question we asked ourselves is what is going to increase in value when AI unlocks time for the human race?”

The answer, in short, was live sports.

“We focus largely on under-appreciated or new age sports assets, which have the ability to engage fans in new ways,” he said. “And that’s how Blue Rising came about. That came to our table earlier in the year and we thought it was an incredible concept. The boats look absolutely stunning, and the more we found out about the engineering that went behind the boats, we’re really looking forward for the world to be able to see these and experience these boats racing against each other.”

Mishra says potential assets musts satisfy certain criteria that LSC value, among those being sustainability and gender equality. E1 ticks off both. Having Kohli on board amplifies the message, he says.

“It’s obviously a humbling process and an honor to partner with someone like Virat. He’s absolutely incredible; arguably one of the best athletes in our generation,” said Mishra. “It was amazing when I had the first few conversations with him and his team as to how passionate he was about these causes as well.

“He’s already been using the amazing platform that he’s built to support these causes,” he added. “We’re really grateful to have him as a co-owner on the team, and we’re hoping he replicates what he’s doing on the cricket pitch, and inspires our athletes to win here as well.”

Having the likes of Kohli, Nadal, Brady, Drogba and Perez will certainly help E1 hit the ground, or water, running.

“There’s lot of visibility around these names that have decided to become part of the league,” said Mishra. “And of course, PIF has had an initial investment in the league as well, and that really helps when talking to various stakeholders around the world.”

While sustainability is a key pillar for the E1 league, it is also a foundational base of Mishra’s holding enterprise.

“For team Blue Rising, we’re focusing on two different aspects of sustainability,” he said. “One is we’re going to be offsetting all of our carbon emissions through carbon credits. Offsets have not had the best reputation in a lot of cases and that’s because they’ve been forestry-based projects.

“But we have partnered with Universal Carbon Registry, and UCR does avoidance-based credits only, so it’s renewable energy-based projects that they’re offsetting with.

“And then the second thing that we’re focused on is specifically around mangrove ecosystems,” Mishra said, with proceeds from sustainable fashion merchandise sales pumped back into the project. “There’s already been extensive efforts in the UAE and GCC to push mangrove ecosystems so we’re hoping to be able to add to that.”

Mishra’s other big project is in the very much land-based world of 10-pin bowling.

In 2024, LSC is set to launch the World Bowling League in partnership with the International Bowling Federation, aiming to revolutionize the sport through a WBL pro tour and WBL global calendars for fans and competitors, as well as broadcasters, sponsors and agencies.

“Originally, when I was introduced to the concept of potentially buying the rights for the sport of bowling, I was a bit perplexed as to why would someone play bowling as a sport, because to me, bowling had been a recreational activity,” he said.

Mishra points to statistics that show that there are almost 200 million people in the world who go bowling four times a year, and 400 million that do so once every three or four years. Alongside the US, other fast-growing bowling markets are the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Scandinavia.

“But more importantly, people who are bowling are from a very high income demographic. We were actually surprised that no one has gone in and structured the sport in a way that it resonates with the entire world.”

As with E1, bowling ticks off criteria that Mishra and LSC value.

“It’s an age agnostic sport,” he said. “So, you could be 10 years old, or you could be 70 years old and be just as good. It is gender neutral, so you could be anyone and you can be pretty much extremely good at the sport.”

At the semi-professional and professional levels, between 3 and 5 million people actively bowl across the globe, although, surprisingly, no universal ranking system exists for the sport.

“We decided to purchase the rights from the international body last January,” he said. “And then over the last 18 months, we have been thinking about how to reimagine a sport from the ground up and how to implement and execute across the entire world.”

Mishra expected some pushback from bowling traditionalists, but he has been “pleasantly surprised” by feedback from the industry.

“We’ve largely been welcomed with open arms,” he said. “We’ve been talking to the top athletes around the world for the sport of bowling and most of the feedback we have got is, ‘we really appreciate this fresh approach to the sport, because it really needs some changes’.”


Simba say goalkeeper attacked after CAF Cup match in Libya

Simba say goalkeeper attacked after CAF Cup match in Libya
Updated 16 September 2024
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Simba say goalkeeper attacked after CAF Cup match in Libya

Simba say goalkeeper attacked after CAF Cup match in Libya
  • “It was scary. I saw Aishi being struck for no reason by a policeman and bottles and other objects hurled at our players,” said the official
  • “Aishi is shaken but okay. He is receiving treatment in the changing room“

JOHANNESBURG: Aishi Manula, the goalkeeper of Tanzanian club Simba, was struck by a policeman after a stormy CAF Confederation Cup qualifier in Libya on Sunday, an official from the visiting team told AFP.
The second round, first leg against Al Ahly Tripoli ended 0-0 in a packed 45,000-seat Tripoli stadium and Simba players dashed for cover at full-time as plastic bottles were flung at them.
“It was scary. I saw Aishi being struck for no reason by a policeman and bottles and other objects hurled at our players,” said the official, who requested anonymity.
“Aishi is shaken but okay. He is receiving treatment in the changing room. I also witnessed some Ahly players attacking the referee and his assistants.”
Both clubs are regular CAF competition campaigners with Ahly making a ninth appearance in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League and Simba a seventh.
Simba are considered potential title challengers in the Confederation Cup, which has been dominated by north African clubs with 16 titles from 21 editions.
Zamalek of Egypt are the current title-holders after edging Renaissance Berkane of Morocco on away goals in the last final.
South African coach Fadlu Davids recently took charge of the Dar es Salaam outfit after being assistant coach of Moroccan league and cup double winners Raja Casablanca last season.
Another first leg in Libya produced a thriller with Al Hilal Benghazi snatching a 3-2 victory over Al Masry of Egypt after trailing twice in the eastern city.
Salah Mohsen put Masry ahead in each half, but two goals from Mohammed al Shiteewi, either side of one from Faisal al Badri, set up an intriguing September 22 return match in Alexandria.
Dynamos of Zimbabwe look set to reach the group stage for the first time, at the third attempt, after a 1-0 win over Orapa United of Botswana in Francistown.
But the most popular club in the southern Africa nation left it late to build an aggregate lead as Valentine Kadonzvo scored with just two minutes of regular time remaining.
Zimbabwe have no international-standard stadium so Dynamos must play Orapa twice in neighboring Botswana.
Burundi outfit Rukinzo are in a similar situation to Dynamos with no suitable venue in the landlocked central African nation.
They opted to face record three-time Confederation Cup winners CS Sfaxien twice in Tunisia, and did well to restrict the home side to a 1-0 win through an early Mohamed ‘Cristo’ Dhaoui goal.


Bellingham, Tchouameni back for Madrid’s Champions League opener

Bellingham, Tchouameni back for Madrid’s Champions League opener
Updated 16 September 2024
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Bellingham, Tchouameni back for Madrid’s Champions League opener

Bellingham, Tchouameni back for Madrid’s Champions League opener
  • Defender Eder Militao did not train on Monday but Ancelotti said the Brazilian would also be ready for the clash

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday midfielders Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni are back from injury as Los Blancos begin the defense of their Champions League trophy.
The record 15-time winners and current holders face German side Stuttgart on Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu and are boosted by the return of England international Bellingham and France’s Tchouameni.
Defender Eder Militao did not train on Monday but Ancelotti said the Brazilian would also be ready for the clash.
“Bellingham is good, just as Tchouameni is good, and Militao too for tomorrow, who didn’t train today because he needed one more day of recovery,” said Ancelotti.
“Two important players are back, but we also have the bad luck to have lost another important player (Brahim Diaz).”
Bellingham, who began the season in a deeper midfield role than in the previous campaign, suffered a calf injury in August which forced him out of four La Liga matches.
“(His return) is fantastic news, for what he brings in a football sense, as well as beyond that,” said Dani Carvajal.
“To see him in the squad again is great, we count on him.”
The midfielder was crucial last season on the way to the Wembley final where Madrid beat his former side Borussia Dortmund.
Ancelotti said his team was just as hungry to win the competition this year.
“We’re as (excited) as always, what this competition brings us, where this club has been such a protagonist for so long, and keeps being one,” added Ancelotti.
“The Champions League is special for Real Madrid, we will try to compete until the end.”


Coe among seven candidates to succeed Bach as IOC president

Coe among seven candidates to succeed Bach as IOC president
Updated 16 September 2024
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Coe among seven candidates to succeed Bach as IOC president

Coe among seven candidates to succeed Bach as IOC president
  • Coe will face stiff opposition from, among others, Kirsty Coventry, bidding to become the first woman and African to head the IOC, and cycling boss David Lappartient
  • The election will be at the IOC Session in Athens

LAUSANNE: World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe is the highest profile of the seven candidates to have declared on Monday their bid to succeed International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach.
Coe will face stiff opposition from, among others, Kirsty Coventry, bidding to become the first woman and African to head the IOC, and cycling boss David Lappartient.
The election will be at the IOC Session in Athens, which runs from March 18-21 next year.
Bach, 70, is standing down after serving 12 years. The German announced at the end of the Paris Games that he would not be seeking another term.
The other four candidates include two from Asia — another continent never to have had an IOC president — Jordan’s Prince Faisal Al-Hussein and gymnastics chief Morinari Watanabe.
Juan Antonio Samaranch Junior, whose father of the same name was IOC president from 1980-2001 and transformed it into a commercial powerhouse, and a surprise entrant, ski federation president Johan Eliasch, round up the candidates.
First up for the septet is presenting their respective programs to the IOC members at the turn of the year.
“The candidates will present their programs, in camera, to the full IOC membership on the occasion of a meeting to be held in Lausanne (Switzerland) in January 2025,” read a short IOC statement unveiling the candidates.
There will be a transition period post election — not something Bach enjoyed when he succeeded Jacques Rogge in 2013 — with the new president and his team assuming control in June.


Jeddah set to host closing round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe

Jeddah set to host closing round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe
Updated 16 September 2024
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Jeddah set to host closing round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe

Jeddah set to host closing round of Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe
  • The global benchmark for GT3 racing is scheduled for Nov. 29-30

Jeddah: The Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS is set to stage the final round of the 2024 campaign at the world’s fastest street circuit, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The global benchmark for GT3 racing is scheduled for Nov. 29-30.

The new addition to the Saudi Motorsport Company 2024 calendar will feature participants competing in the GT World Challenge Europe in a thrilling 1,000 km contest. Simultaneously, participants in the GT4 European Series will also engage in their customary format, with two one-hour races on the same circuit.

The event is set to launch a new long-term partnership between Saudi Arabia and SRO Motorsports Group, which will likely expand over the coming seasons.

Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi Motorsport Company and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, said: “The arrival of two more exhilarating world-class racing series in Saudi Arabia from 2024 confirms the scale of the Kingdom’s transformation into the new hotbed of motorsport in the region. In doing so, we continue to accelerate the pace of progress we see through hosting these major events. We look forward to working with SRO Motorsports and continuing to provide more opportunities to enrich the lives of all our residents.”

The Saudi Motorsport Company on Monday officially launched ticket sales for the Jeddah GT Race 2024, set to take place in Jeddah.

The Jeddah GT Race 2024 has a variety of ticket options, including GT general admission, general child admission, and VIP tickets, available as single-day or two-day passes. Early-bird tickets offer discounts for a limited time.


Van Dijk urges Liverpool to hit back after ‘unacceptable’ Forest loss

Van Dijk urges Liverpool to hit back after ‘unacceptable’ Forest loss
Updated 16 September 2024
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Van Dijk urges Liverpool to hit back after ‘unacceptable’ Forest loss

Van Dijk urges Liverpool to hit back after ‘unacceptable’ Forest loss
  • Liverpool captain Van Dijk wants the defeat to serve as fuel to beat Milan and quickly get their campaign back on track

LONDON: Virgil van Dijk has urged Liverpool to hit back after their “unacceptable” defeat against Nottingham Forest as the Reds prepare to start their Champions League campaign.
Just days after their shock 1-0 loss to Forest in the Premier League, Arne Slot’s side begin the new Champions League format with a trip to AC Milan on Tuesday.
After winning the first three games of the Slot era, Liverpool were brought down to earth with a bump by Forest at Anfield on Saturday.
Liverpool captain Van Dijk wants the defeat to serve as fuel to beat Milan and quickly get their campaign back on track.
“We have a very good group that really understand that it was unacceptable and are disappointed,” the Dutch center-back said.
“We all know everyone can do better and we have to show that on Tuesday and that is what we focus on.
“We have been through losses and difficult moments together and I think we have to stay calm and we will stay calm.
“Hopefully if there are no injuries happening then rhythm is always a good thing.
“We need the whole squad and we know after the international break it will be a game every three days so we need everyone in their best shape and best form.”
Liverpool had looked impressive in their wins against Ipswich, Brentford and Manchester United.
They managed to avoid conceding a goal in any of those games, before Forest forward Callum Hudson-Odoi finally breached Van Dijk’s defense at the weekend.
Asked what they had to do to prevent the defeat impacting their early-season momentum, Van Dijk said: “Keep going and keep working and make sure the performances don’t go in that direction.
“We all know how the atmosphere can change but that is also part of the influence from outside which could affect you.
“I can’t wait to be out there hearing the Champions League tune and leading out the boys.
“A club like Liverpool needs to be in the Champions League and we are finally back and let’s go out there and put in a much better performance as it is needed otherwise you are going to have an issue.”