Manifest is hosting the second edition of Manifest Play in partnership with Havas Play on 10 April 2026.

The event will feature three panels that will primarily discuss the growth and sustenance of women-related leagues and sports. Marketers will discuss opportunities and challenges, while talent managers will share realities.

Former Indian cricket captain Diana Edulji, who received the Padma Shri in 2002, will attend the event as a chief guest and participate in a fireside chat.

During the event, Havas Play and KPMG Sports Advisory will release a report highlighting the next-generation fan perspective on women’s sports. This report aims to provide insights for evaluating investment opportunities in the women’s sports ecosystem in India.

SI is the 'fan engagement partner', while Jack Daniel's is the 'Drinks Break Partner'.

Click here to register for the event.

Agenda

Timing Session
4:00 pm Registrations open
4:30 pm Opening note: Manifest
4:35 pm Opening keynote by ⁠Uday Mohan, COO, Havas India and Havas Play
4:40 pm How can women's sports in India can monetise faster by investing in digital first?
Speakers
Prachi Narayan, managing partner, Havas Play
Namrata Parekh, Namrata Parekh, co- founder, Meraki Sports and Entertainment, CEO- Emami East Bengal FC
Vishal Yadav, founder and CEO, Femalecricket and FemaleInSports
Krushmi Chheda, sports scientist and nutritionist founder, CORE, and nutritionist, Rajasthan Royals IPL
Shubhangi Gupta, co-founder and CMO, SportVot
Moderated by: Chintan Shah, SVP SI
5:10 pm Havas and KPMG Sports report unveiling
⁠Sanchita Roy, chief strategy officer, Havas Media, to take us through the findings of the report.
5:25 pm Panel to discuss the report trends and findings
Kala Anand, director - sports advisory, KPMG India
Prasana Krishnan, co-founder and CSO, FanCode
Moderated by: Vipin Nambiar, founder, Emurge Sports
5:55 pm Fireside with Diana Edujli, former Indian cricketer and Padma Shri recepient
6:10 pm Fireside with Rana Barua, group CEO, India, SEA and North Asia (Japan and South Korea)
6:30 pm Marketers and experts discussing the report, as well their experiencies of partnering with sporting properties/athletes. Marketers to share the ROI and how different (if at all) are these associations?
Speakers
Apoorva Maheshwari, Bestsellers
Mahesh Koppad, BKT (TBC)
Toranj Mehta, VP – marketing, De Beers India
Hannah Muthoot, Muthoot
Neville Bastawala, SPNI
Pracheta Mazumdar, associate director, Bumble
Moderator: Manasi Narasimhan, former marketing head, Mastercard
7:15 pm Break
7:30 pm Awards begins with a Manifest welcome note
7:40 pm ⁠Mohit Joshi, CEO, Havas Media Network India
7:45 pm Short fireside chat with Sulakshana Naik, former Indian cricketer, and part of the selection committee, Indian women's cricket team.
8:30 pm Dinner, cocktails and networking till midnight.

CATEGORIES 2026

Best Promo

Cricket this category will recognise the best promo for a cricket tournament/match on air across TV/OTT/Radio/Print. Football this category will recognise the best promo for a football tournament/match on air across TV/OTT/Radio/Print.

Best brand integration

Broadcast This category recognises and rewards the best brand integrations within broadcasts on sports tournaments on TV/OTT/Radio. On-ground This category recognises and rewards brand integrations between brands and sporting events on-ground.

Best marketing for a sports IP

Awards in this category will be based on the best marketing of a sports IP. Please note that this will be based on the budget the IP has to spend, and not just on the scale of the event.

Best new sports IP of the year

This is to reward and recognise the best new sports property of the year. Jurors will be judging this category based on the popularity and buzz the tournament gauged in its inaugural edition.

Best IP of the year

This is to reward and recognise the best sporting property of the year. Jurors will be judging this category based on the popularity of the IP and how it grew in the eligible period versus the year before.

Best sponsorship of a tournament

This analyses the best sporting sponsorship of a tournament. This could be a lead sponsor or any other partner tag. It's about how the brand leveraged the association with the tournament.

Best sponsorship of a team

This analyses the best sporting sponsorship of a team/franchise. This could be a lead sponsor or any other partner tag. It's about how the brand leveraged the association with the team.

Best eSports IP

This will recognise the best eSports property created with a focus on participation and brand interest garnered.

Best eSports brand integration

This will reward the agency/brand that has most effectively leveraged eSports to reach out to its audience.

Best sports podcast

This category looks into the best podcasts/online chat shows in the sports space.

Best TV broadcast channel

This is awarded to a channel with the best portfolio of content across sports with proof of coverage of how each was covered. This includes new deals secured as well as old deals extended, best packaging of sports on TV.

Best OTT Platform

This is awarded to an OTT platform with the best portfolio of content across sports with proof of coverage of how each was covered. This includes new deals secured as well as old deals extended, best packaging of sports on the medium.

Sports PR campaign of the year

This will award and recognise the best PR campaign for a sporting event/initiative.

Best talent partnership

This is to be entered by talent management companies. In this category a talent management firm can list a partnership it facilitated with an athlete and a brand. Winners will be basis how the sporting talent echoes the brand message. A talent management company can list multiple partnerships as separate entries.

Best use of an athlete(s) in a promo

This category is open for agencies to enter and rewards the best use of an athlete in a commercial.

Best Commentator - English

This is awarded to the most impactful English-speaking commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.

Best Commentator- Hindi

This is awarded to the most impactful Hindi-speaking commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.

Best Commentator - other language

This is awarded to the most impactful non-English and Hindi commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.

Best Sports Editor

This is awarded to the best sports editor across languages. The jury will be looking to reward the editor with the best viewpoints as well as accurate reportage.

Best brand ambassador for a sporting event

This is for sporting leagues/tournaments hiring brand ambassadors and how he/she was leveraged to garner interest around the sport.

Best influencer partnership with a sporting event

This is to recognise and reward an influencer who has partnered with a sporting event to promote it. Jurors will be looking for fan engagement with the influencers' posts.

Sports PR person of the year

This award will recognise the best PR person related to a sporting activity during the eligibility period.

×
Best Promo

1) Cricket

This category will recognise the best promo for a cricket tournament/match on air across TV/OTT/Radio/Print.

2) Football

This category will recognise the best promo for a football tournament/match on air across TV/OTT/Radio/Print.

3) Other sports

This category will recognise the best promo for a sports tournament/match on air across TV/OTT/Radio/Print.

×
Best brand integration

1) Broadcast

This category recognises and rewards the best brand integrations within broadcasts on sports tournaments on TV/OTT/Radio.

2) On-Ground

This category recognises and rewards brand integrations between brands and sporting events on-ground.

3) Team sponsorship

This category recognises and rewards effective integration between brands and teams and how the team sponsorship has been leveraged.

4) Ambush

This category recognises and rewards the best ambush/unofficial marketing during a sports event.

×
Best marketing for a sports IP

Awards in this category will be based on the best marketing of a sports IP. Please note that this will be based on the budget the IP has to spend, and not just on the scale of the event.

×
Best new sports IP of the year

This is to reward and recognise the best new sports property of the year. Jurors will be judging this category based on the popularity and buzz the tournament gauged in its inaugural edition.

×
Best IP of the year

This is to reward and recognise the best sporting property of the year. Jurors will be judging this category based on the popularity of the IP and how it grew in the eligible period versus the year before.

×
Best sponsorship of a tournament

This analyses the best sporting sponsorship of a tournament. This could be a lead sponsor or any other partner tag. It's about how the brand leveraged the association with the tournament.

×
Best sponsorship of a team

This analyses the best sporting sponsorship of a team/franchise. This could be a lead sponsor or any other partner tag. It's about how the brand leveraged the association with the team.

×
Best Commentator - English

This is awarded to the most impactful English-speaking commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.

×
Best Commentator- Hindi

This is awarded to the most impactful Hindi-speaking commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.

×
Best Commentator – other language

This is awarded to the most impactful non-English and Hindi commentator across sports in India. This is open to OTT/TV/Radio commentators.

×
Best Sports Editor

This is awarded to the best sports editor across languages. The jury will be looking to reward the editor with the best viewpoints as well as accurate reportage.

×
Best TV broadcast channel

This is awarded to a channel with the best portfolio of content across sports with proof of coverage of how each was covered. This includes new deals secured as well as old deals extended, best packaging of sports on TV.

×
Best OTT Platform

This is awarded to an OTT platform with the best portfolio of content across sports with proof of coverage of how each was covered. This includes new deals secured as well as old deals extended, best packaging of sports on the medium.

×
Best brand ambassador for a sporting event

This is for sporting leagues/tournaments hiring brand ambassadors and how he/she was leveraged to garner interest around the sport.

×
Best influencer partnership with a sporting event

This is to recognise and reward an influencer who has partnered with a sporting event to promote it. Jurors will be looking for fan engagement with the influencers' posts.

×
Best eSports IP

This will recognise the best eSports property created with a focus on participation and brand interest garnered.

×
Best eSports brand integration

This will reward the agency/brand that has most effectively leveraged eSports to reach out to its audience.

×
Best sports podcast

This category looks into the best podcasts/online chat shows in the sports space.

×
Sports PR campaign of the year

This will award and recognise the best PR campaign for a sporting event/initiative.

×
Sports PR person of the year

This award will recognise the best PR person related to a sporting activity during the eligibility period.

×
Best talent partnership

This is to be entered by talent management companies. In this category a talent management firm can list a partnership it facilitated with an athlete and a brand. Winners will be basis how the sporting talent echoes the brand message. A talent management company can list multiple partnerships as separate entries.

×
Best use of an athlete(s) in a promo

This category is open for agencies to enter and rewards the best use of an athlete in a commercial.

Entry Guidelines

Who Should Enter? The awards are open to all firms and individuals who are eligible to enter the categories.

Eligibility Period: Work must have been completed between 1st February 2025 and 15th February 2026.

Entries Open: 16th February 2026

Entry Deadline: 15th March, 2026

Entry Fees: FREE

Entry Process

  • Complete and submit the online entry form.
  • Each question has a word limit of 125 words.
  • Supporting materials can be uploaded via microsite links in the entry form.
  • Each supporting file must not exceed 10 MB.

Speakers

Diana Edulji

Padma Shri Awardee, Former Indian cricketer

Prachi Narayan

Managing partner, Havas Play

Namrata Parekh,

Co-Founder, Meraki Sports and Entertainment, CEO- Emami East Bengal FC

Vishal Yadav

Founder and CEO, Femalecricket, FemaleInSports

Chintan Shah

Senior vice president, SI

Prasana Krishnan

Co-Founder and CSO, Fancode

Neville Bastawalla

SVP and Head - Marketing and on air promotions, sports network, Sony Pictures Networks India

Apoorva Maheshwari

Head - Marketing, Bestsellers India

Manasi Narasimhan

Head - Brand and communications, Accelerate Indian Philanthropy and SCALE

Shubhangi Gupta

Co-Founder and CMO, Sportvot

Krushmi Chheda

Sports Scientist & Nutritionist Founder of CORE Nutritionist Rajasthan Royals IPL

Kala Anand

Director - Sports Advisory, KPMG India

Pracheta Mazumdar

Associate director, Bumble

Sulakshana Naik

Former Indian Cricketer, and part of the selection committee, for the Indian Women's cricket team

Jury

Aakriti Vohra

Global network delegate, LaLiga India.

Abhinav Kumar

Global CMO, TCS

Ajay Dang,

President, head - marketing, UltraTech Cement

Jyoti Kumar Bansal

Head of communications, Tata Power

Namrata Parekh

Co-Founder, Meraki Sports and Entertainment, CEO - Emami East Bengal FC

Neeraj Jha

Head - sports business, Warner Bros Discovery - India and South Asia

Neha Parab Kandalgaonkar

Vice president and head - corporate communications, Procam International

Neville Bastawalla

SVP & head - marketing & on air promotions, Sports Network at Sony Pictures Networks India

Nishant Kashikar

Country manager - India and Gulf, Tourism Australia

Prasana Krishnan

Co-Founder, FanCode

Prachi Narayan

Managing partner, Havas Play

Radhika Varma

Co-Founder, WAYS (What Are You Saying)

Tarun Jha

SVP and head - marketing, JSW Steel

Virat Khullar

Head - marketing, Hyundai Motor India

PARTNERS

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