Monnet to sponsor Indian Boxing Federation

Monnet Ispat & Energy has signed a deal of USD one million with Indian Boxing Federation to become a team and kit sponsor for the next three years. With this association Monnet has become the only Indian corporate to come forward to support Indian boxing. To celebrate this red letter day for Indian boxing, Percept Ltd, the exclusive marketing agent of Indian Boxing Federation also launched "Fight Night" - India's first ever Indoor Boxing Bouts between Top Indian and International Boxers which will be held all over the country at periodic intervals. This first fight night will be brought to you by Monnet to celebrate the signing of the Indian team sponsorship which will cover the entire Indian team ' Mens senior, junior and sub junior teams along with the women's senior, junior and sub junior teams.

The sponsorship from Monnet follows the stunning show put up by Indian boxers at the Commonwealth Boxing Championship in winning six Gold medals. Olympic hero Vijender Singh (75kg), Asian champion Suranjoy Singh (52kg), Jai Bhagwan (60kg), Olympian Dinesh Kumar (81kg), Paramjeet Samota (+91kg) and Amandeep Singh (49kg). Boxing as a sport has so far not attracted any major corporate sponsorships both in individual & institutional level, Monnet's support in this direction will definitely help the sport to reach bigger heights. The Company was always keen to have an association with sports for some time now, they decided on boxing as the sport exudes strength, vigor and sustenance just like the quality of steel products that they manufacture.

Sandeep Jajodia, Executive Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Monnet Ispat said, "When I was growing up like other youngsters I was captivated by the sport of boxing in general and loved tracking India's performances at the Olympics and at international games. There have generally been a lot of cynicism surrounding sports in India and I genuinely felt that something needs to be done rather than sit back and be a part of this cynicism. Boxing for Monnet makes a lot of sense from two perspectives from a sports lover's perspective the boxers have been delivering consistently over the past few years and now with this

The platform of "Fight Night" showcases an ideal mix of the entertaining sport of boxing with live entertainment combined with a premium experience for the audience. Though this concept is largely practiced in US and Europe, Indians will experience it for the first time in a very big way. Percept plans to organise the fight night bouts in various places all over the country at regular intervals. There will be a huge frenzy which will preset 2 weeks before every Fight Night with sponsors rolling out with multimedia campaigns and the boxers making appearances at various high traffic locations. Hoardings, billboards & cut outs of the competing boxers of the forthcoming bouts will be showcased at different places. The plan for Fight Night will be shared at a later date with the media.

Shailendra Singh, Joint Managing Director, Percept Ltd excitedly added "A large populous nation such as India cannot thrive on a single sport. The quick fire quotient present in the sport of Boxing provides a perfect alternative sport for our audiences. Fight Night will provide the ideal fast paced sporting entertainment option that today's audiences crave for. Every sport needs superstars to drive interest, popularity and engagement with the audiences and with luminaries like Vijender Singh, Suranjoy Singh and other talented stars leading the way in this arena boxing can only become more popular going forward.

Boxing is faster and more athletic than any other sport, and does not require elaborate infrastructure. Percept will ensure that all efforts are made to make boxing more popular in this country. Winning six Golds at the Commonwealth Boxing Championship and support from corporate such as Monnet Ispat only goes to prove that Boxing is the next best thing!"

Abhay Singh Chautala, President Indian Boxing Federation said "I am extremely happy and thrilled at the support boxing is getting in the form of sponsorship that Monnet Group and Mr Sandeep Jajodia are providing to IBF. This is a sign of good work that we have been trying to do, this was just the right boost that we needed to keep working much harder into making our boxers the world beaters that they already are on their way of becoming. We thank our partners Percept for making this happen and look

forward to work with Monnet Group towards taking Indian boxing to newer successes."