Mumbai: Mumbai Warriors is the latest team to be unveiled in World Series Hockey. The team will be spearheaded by local champion Adrian D’Souza as captain and one of the world’s most cutting edge coaches – Andrew Meredith. The team will also feature emerging star Yuvraj Walmiki, comeback champion and former India captain Viren Rasquina along with international stars like Pedro Ibarra (Argentina) and Sung Min (South Korea).
ProSport Holdings is a consortium led by highly respected industrialist Ashish Bharatram (SRF Group) and sports and media entrepreneur Harish Thawani (Nimbus Communications). The SRF Group is one of India’s most respected and leading business houses with a large international footprint. They have been rapidly expanding their operations in the textiles and chemicals business. Nimbus Communications Ltd is one of India’s biggest sports rights management and marketing company and has succesfully managed and marketed various commercial rights for global sports federations, including BCCI, ICC, EPL, IPL, Asian Cricket Council and Indian Golf Union amongst many others.
The franchise will shortly announce a leading media and entertainment player as a third partner. The consortium is a perfect mix of the 3 key essentials for any successful league - sport, business and entertainment.
Confirming their decision to join World Series Hockey, Ashish Bharatram, Promoter, SRF Group said, “It’s an honour indeed for us to get associated with an initiative that aims to promote our national game of hockey. It’s only fair to say that Indian Hockey which has given us several moments of pride in the past deserves its own place of pride in the arena of sports. I am sure the World Series Hockey will not only provide a huge platform to the young and budding hockey players to rub their shoulders with the best in the world but will also rekindle passion for our national game in the hearts of one billion people of India. We must restore the pride that we enjoyed in the days of arguably the greatest hockey player ever, Dhyanchand”
Harish Thawani, Chairman, Nimbus Communications said, “Mumbai has a proud tradition of hockey, having produced numerous Olympians, and won several national titles. Mumbai Warriors is a tribute to the spirit of Mumbai and its proud legacy of sporting excellence. It is also my personal salute to the greatest schools hockey coach that ever lived Oliver Andrade.”
Yannick Colaco, COO, Nimbus Sport said, “We are delighted to welcome Mumbai Warriors to the WSH family. SRF Group is one of the most respected business houses in India while no one knows the sports business as well as Harish. The common thread across all the teams we have announced is their passion for hockey. This augurs extremely well for the league.”
