The decision acknowledges Shri M. L. Mehta’s long-standing contribution to public administration and his formative guidance in shaping IIHMR’s academic direction and mission.
Category: Business
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Growing Interest in Sports and Digital Gaming Drives Centre Court Capital’s Fund Close at ₹410 crore with Support from Top Investors
Backed by domestic investors and leading sportspersons, the fund will invest in fifteen to eighteen companies across sports, fitness, wellness and social gaming
Centre Court Capital marked a significant milestone on nine December in Mumbai with the close of its maiden fund at four hundred ten crore rupees. The close surpasses the original target of three hundred fifty crore rupees that was announced at the start of twenty twenty four. This expansion in investor participation underscores the momentum that India’s sports, fitness, wellness and social gaming sectors are gaining as they enter a scale ready growth phase. The early close at two hundred crore rupees established the foundation for strong investor interest, and the final close confirms the market’s belief in the long term commercial potential of these sectors.
The fund is anchored by Parth Jindal and supported by multiple domestic institutions including the Small Industries Development Bank of India which is described at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Industries_Development_Bank_of_India and SRI. Additional backing has come from prominent family offices such as Premji Invest which can be viewed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azim_Premji, the SanRaj Group and GMR Sports which is part of the GMR Group explained at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GMR_Group.
Celebrated sportspersons including Neeraj Chopra whose background appears at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neeraj_Chopra, Rishabh Pant whose profile is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishabh_Pant, PV Sindhu whose achievements appear at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._V._Sindhu, and Jemimah Rodrigues whose profile is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jemimah_Rodrigues have also endorsed the fund. Entrepreneurs such as Binny Bansal documented at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binny_Bansal, Mithun Sacheti, and Ankit Nagori at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankit_Nagori have further strengthened its foundation. The combination of institutional capital, family office participation and individual endorsements demonstrates that multiple investor segments recognise the opportunities shaped by changing consumer behaviour, rising fitness participation and rapid digital expansion in India.
India’s sports ecosystem has been evolving rapidly. The broader context of sports in India is available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_India. The country’s wellness and fitness sectors are also experiencing growth, with wellness outlined at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellness_(alternative_medicine) and physical fitness explained at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_fitness. Simultaneously, digital gaming has become a major part of the entertainment economy. A detailed overview appears at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_industry_in_India. Improvements in mobile access, documented at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phones_in_India, have accelerated participation in interactive gaming and opened space for new products and consumer facing platforms.
Speaking on the occasion, Mustafa Ghouse, Founder and General Partner of Centre Court Capital, highlighted that investors have shown confidence in a focused vision for sports and gaming emerging from India. He noted that India’s broader sports economy has been valued at about nineteen billion United States dollars and is expected to reach nearly forty billion United States dollars by twenty thirty. This projection reflects the convergence of performance analytics, athlete development systems, fan engagement technologies and interactive content. The global sports economy context can be referenced at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_industry.
Digital gaming continues to show strong year on year growth fuelled by deeper mobile usage and improved monetisation models. The economic significance of gaming can also be explored through https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_industry. Mustafa Ghouse identified two opportunity streams that stand out. The first is the rapid expansion of the domestic market as more users adopt gaming products. The second is the growing capability of Indian founders who are creating high quality gaming and sports technology products for global audiences. This dual pathway supports a future where India contributes not only as a consumption market but also as a creator of global products.
He added that these indicators affirm the need for focused capital and sector specific expertise at this stage of industry development. With the close of this fund, Centre Court Capital intends to back founders who are building the infrastructure, analytics systems and fan facing products that will define the next era of sports and gaming across India and beyond. His remarks also emphasised responsible deployment of capital to ensure that portfolio companies scale sustainably and deliver returns for investors.
The fund plans to invest in fifteen to eighteen companies with initial ticket sizes ranging from eight crore rupees to twenty four crore rupees. It also reserves a significant pool for follow on rounds. The intention to lead or co lead most of its investments signals an active approach in portfolio development. Venture capital structures and strategies can be referenced at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venture_capital.Centre Court Capital has already invested in six companies representing a mix of India focused and globally oriented opportunities across sports technology and interactive gaming. These sectors are shaped by major shifts in user behaviour, fitness habits and consumer engagement, with insights on gaming communities at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_community and athlete performance analytics at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_science.
The organisation describes itself as a first of its kind venture capital fund that supports founders who expand the boundaries of sports and gaming for India. As India strengthens its position in these fields, the role of focused investment vehicles becomes more critical. Entrepreneurship in this context is outlined at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrepreneurship. The fund combines operational experience and investment capability to mentor and support founders in building commercial scale.The oversubscription of the maiden fund signals strong trust in its direction. It also suggests that there is meaningful demand for specialised investment vehicles in this sector. The sports and gaming economy is now shaped by a generation that uses technology to track wellness, improve performance, enhance entertainment and build community. Fitness communities and wellness groups are examined at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_fitness and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellness_(alternative_medicine). The fund’s strategic focus aligns closely with these behavioural trends.
With digital adoption rising and user expectations shifting across platforms, the market is entering a phase where technical depth and consumer understanding must go hand in hand. Centre Court Capital positions itself to bridge that gap by supporting founders who combine performance, innovation, data and entertainment into long term commercial models.
This editorial has been prepared for Prittle Prattle News, featuring you virtuously under the leadership of Smruti Bhalerao, as part of the platform’s contribution to documenting India’s evolving investment landscape across emerging sectors.At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTub
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India Faces 265 Million Cyber Attacks in a Year, Reveals Seqrite Cyber Threat Report 2026
Seqrite’s latest report outlines major malware trends, top affected regions, and introduces new ransomware and digital risk protection services
In one of the most comprehensive analyses of India’s cyber landscape to date, Seqrite, the enterprise arm of Quick Heal Technologies, has released the India Cyber Threat Report 2026. Compiled by Seqrite Labs, India’s largest malware analysis centre, the report reveals over 265 million cyber threat detections between October 2024 and September 2025. This translates to more than 727,000 detections every day or 505 every minute.
Trojans and File Infectors accounted for nearly 70 percent of all attacks, with 88.4 million and 71.1 million detections respectively. Ransomware activity peaked in January 2025 with over 113,000 detections and 185 incidents, while cryptojacking reached 6.5 million cases. More than 9.2 million network-based exploit scans were recorded, frequently targeting vulnerable platforms such as WordPress plugins, Apache Tomcat, and SysAid.The most affected states included Maharashtra with 36.1 million detections, Gujarat with 24.1 million, and Delhi with 15.4 million. Cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata emerged as top targets. From an industry standpoint, the Education, Healthcare, and Manufacturing sectors made up 47 percent of total detections, driven by high criticality and relatively limited cybersecurity resources.
To support enterprises facing this increasingly hostile digital environment, Seqrite has launched two new enterprise-grade services:Ransomware Recovery as a Service (RRaaS): A specialized recovery offering combining expert-led cryptanalysis, forensic tools, and secure workflows to help organizations restore encrypted files safely without paying a ransom. The solution ensures business continuity through validated restoration free from reinfection risks.
Digital Risk Protection Services (DRPS): A machine learning-powered SaaS platform designed to detect, monitor, and neutralize digital threats beyond the firewall. DRPS enables enterprises to safeguard brand reputation, track domain spoofing, identify fake accounts, and scan the dark web for potential risks. It also offers automated reporting and a dedicated war room for rapid takedown support and legal escalation.According to Seqrite’s India Cybersecurity Preparedness 2026 Survey, the country recorded strong adoption of advanced malware protection and backup readiness. However, gaps persist in incident response protocols, asset hygiene, and secure configuration practices. With an average maturity score of 6.37 out of 10, India’s overall preparedness remains uneven.
Dr. Sanjay Katkar, Joint Managing Director of Quick Heal Technologies Ltd., said,
“India’s cybersecurity posture is facing immense pressure. Our report aims to help policymakers and enterprises understand the evolving threat landscape and respond more proactively. With the addition of Seqrite DRPS and RRaaS, we are transforming how businesses respond to ransomware and digital risk, giving them the tools to stay ahead of modern attacks.”The 2026 report also includes forward-looking predictions and sector-specific insights. It features guidance on strengthening identity-centric defenses, adopting AI-driven threat mitigation, deploying automated patching systems, and building resilience through collaboration and training. Seqrite reports that 14 of its 20 predictions from last year have already come true.
As India continues its digital expansion, the rising threat from cybercriminal syndicates, state-aligned actors, and hybrid attacks remains a serious concern. Campaigns like Operation Sindoor highlight the need for integrated security strategies across the public and private sectors.
To access the full India Cyber Threat Report 2026 and learn more about Seqrite’s new services, visit the company’s website.At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTub