GOA NETWORK7 PR & Events

From L TO R Dr Elphinston Fernandes - Urologist, Dr Yogesh Goude Anaesthesia Team Leader Goa Mission, Dr Sangram Patro, FMD & Surgical Team leader, Mr Conrad Dennis, CEO Mission Smile, Mr Raghuram Rangaswami, Director of Manufacturing & System Colgate, Goa. Dr Vardhan Bhobe, Director of Wisdom Hospital and Mr Anant Joshi EX Navy, Founder Press Club of Goa at a Press Meet at Panjim on Sunday.

PANJIM, GOA : Colgate-Palmolive India's 'Smiles for Life' CSR program facilitates corrective surgeries for cleft lip and cleft palate in children and young adults, in collaboration with NGO Mission Smile. Under this program, Colgate-Palmolive has supported over 2195 cleft surgeries across 10 states to date. The company is planning additional surgeries in Goa between 18-20 February 2024. The three-day comprehensive Cleft surgical camp will start with screening, followed by cleft surgeries through a team of medical experts in Plastic Surgery, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Anaesthesiology, Paediatrics, Dentistry, Speech Language Pathology, and Nursing from across the country. Wisdom Hospital, Panjim in Goa, is hosting this mission and providing infrastructure support, including Operation Theatre, Recovery Ward, Post-operative Wards, along with their support of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff during the mission period.

Shilpashree Muniswamappa, Director, ESG and communications, Colgate-Palmolive India said, "Our 'Smiles for Life' program reflects our commitment to the oral health and well-being of the children in our communities. Annually, close to 35,000 children are born with cleft who suffer from malnourishment, speech problems and societal acceptance. By collaborating with conscious partners such as Mission Smile and Wisdom Hospital, we aim to actively contribute to the lives of these children through transformative cleft lip and cleft palate corrective surgeries. Witnessing the positive impact across diverse regions reinforces our belief that every smile holds the power to inspire and uplift communities. I am immensely proud of the collective efforts that we are making towards our commitment to promoting oral health and overall well-being.."

About Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited

Colgate-Palmolive is a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, and the planet. Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited is the market leader in Oral Care in the country, committed to delivering sustainable, profitable growth for its shareholders, while fostering an inclusive workplace for its people. With a primary focus on Oral Care & Personal Care in the Indian market, the company is recognized for its leadership and innovative efforts in advancing sustainability and community well-being.

Among its recent accomplishments, the company has made significant strides in reducing plastic waste and promoting recyclability, conserving water and energy at its manufacturing facilities, and enhancing children's oral health through the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® program. Since its inception in the mid-1970s, this program has touched the lives of more than 171 million children.

For more information about Colgate’s global business and how it is building a future to smile about, visit: www.colgatepalmolive.co.in

Wisdom Hospital, Panjim, is hosting this mission as part of their CSR activity. The hospital is providing free of cost infrastructure support which includes Operation Theatre, Recovery Ward, Post-operative Wards along with their support from Doctors, Nurses and Paramedical staff during Mission period. Wisdom Hospital is a multi-specialty hospital that aims to provide access to affordable and quality healthcare to the people of Goa. The Hospital is supported by a team of highly qualified and experienced doctors, nursing and paramedical staff.

Colgate-Palmolive India's 'Smiles for Life' team and patients for cleft lip and cleft palate in children and young adults, with the NGO Mission Smile team. Under this program, Colgate-Palmolive has supported over 2195 cleft surgeries across 10 states to date.

Mission Smile is a registered medical charitable trust dedicated to provide free life-changing surgeries to children born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. Since 2002, we have provided complete medical evaluations to more than 69,000 cleft patients and have performed surgeries and cleft care free of cost to more than 45000 children and adults suffering from cleft-afflicted deformities, through 138 Missions, 16 Outreach Centres pan India and our dedicated Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre in Guwahati. Medical and non-medical volunteers from India and abroad are joining hands for the cause of clefts. Over 1800 such volunteers have joined the initiative so far.

For further information, please contact:

Rafiur Rahman - Program Manager: Phone +91-9073397002.

(L to R): Director, Tonia Group, Mario Sequeira, Director, Evergreen County Coorg, Mr Bajan Bopanna, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri. Rohan Khaunte, Brand Ambassador of Air India Express Corporate Sports League and Indian badminton player, Anura Prabhudesai, Indian Navy Retired, Mr Anant Joshi and Director, Goalz Events Pvt Ltd, Mr Swarjeet Salagode at the unveiling of the trophies of the Air India Express Corporate League at Porvorim on Saturday.

PORVORIM, GOA: The Air India Express Corporate Sports League was declared open with the unveiling of the trophies and the official football by the Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Goa, Shri. Rohan Khaunte in the presence of Director, Tonia Group, Mario Sequeira, Indian Navy Retired, Mr Anant Joshi, Brand Ambassador of Air India Express Corporate Sports League and Indian badminton player, Anura Prabhudesai, Director, Goalz Events Pvt Ltd, Mr Swarjeet Salagode, and Director, Evergreen County Coorg, Mr Bajan Bopanna, at the Grand Kadamba Hotel in Porvorim.

“When we talk about Goa beyond beaches, sports tourism has some role to play. In the last one and a half to two years we have been hosting the Goa Iron Man 17.3, the World Table Tennis, and the International Beach Volleyball Pro in the State of Goa,” said Mr Khaunte, Tourism Minister of Goa.

He further elaborated, “When we look at this opportunity we realise that there is a lot of potential for people to come down to Goa to host meetings, conventions, incentives, entertainment, etc. And a part of that allows you to do a lot of corporate events which allow people to come and spend a little time out of their stressful corporate lives,”

“Air India Express Corporate League having football and badminton tournaments will provide the opportunity for many teams to come across, visit Goa, participate and make friends with a positive spirit and dedication. Sports is all about having ethics, team spirit and many more things which allow you to be a good leader in life,” he added.

Addressing the gathering, Anura Prabhudesai, said, “I am extremely happy to be the brand ambassador of the Air India Express Corporate League. Although they cover all the sports, they are taking a special interest in football and badminton. With Goa being the tourism hub, this is a great initiative to come forward and promote sports as well, badminton is a sport that everybody enjoys and it is all about discipline and teamwork,”

The trophies were then unveiled at the hands of the dignitaries. The Air India Express Platinum Cup was unveiled at the hands of Shri Rohan Khaunte, the Evergreen County Gold Cup by Mr Bajan Bopanna and the Makabi Silver Cup by Mr Mario Sequeira.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the organisers for giving us the privilege to be a part of this and would like to thank Rajesh for connecting us with Swarjeet and making this possible,” said Mario Sequeira, Director of Tonia Group.

The Air India Express Corporate Sports League will take off in Goa with Goalz Events Pvt. Ltd. Initiatives in a bid to promote sports tourism in Goa. Goa being a tourist destination has unmatched sports personalities and sports grounds.

Understanding the old saying that goes, ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,’ is important - especially in the corporate world.

The Goalz Events Pvt Ltd, an event management company from Bangalore has organised the ‘Air India Express Corporate Sports League’.

Managed by Swarjeet Salagode, Director, Goalz Events Pvt Ltd, the event aims at boosting workplace morale and creating a sense of teamwork even after working hours.

“We are a sports event management company that has conducted sporting events across the country since 2013, and this particular concept of sports which we are doing is called the ‘Air India Express Corporate Sports League,’ and includes football and corporate badminton,” informed Swarjeet.

“We have these corporate sports on five-a-side football and badminton which will then culminate with the winners coming to Goa for a national finals,” informed Swarjeet.

“In short, it is all about promoting sports. We have been generously supported by Goa Network 7 to promote this particular event,” he said as he thanked Rajesh D’silva, founder of Goa Network 7 PR for promoting the event pan India.

Goalz Unlimited has created an ideal platform. Not only the corporates but their children will be coming down to Goa and getting involved in sports. Which is fantastic as the next generation will lead the country to bigger goals,” said Jordan Vas, Founder of Goa Estates and representing Tunwal electric bikes.

The Goa Estates is sponsoring the event Pan India and Jordan Vas, Distributor of Tunwal in Goa has generously sponsored the electric bikes for the event.

Air India Express corporate Sports League

The Air India Express Corporate Sports League will be promoting sports tourism with the corporate world of India to create a healthy environment not only physically but professionally too as sports bring out teamwork and winning spirit.

“I would say that Goalz Events Pvt Ltd has done a very good job in supporting sports through the Air India Express corporate league,” said Anura Prabhudesai.

She urged all the employees to give their best and above all, have a good time!

The Goan corporate fraternity too is participating and it’s a wonderful opportunity not only to exchange smashes on the badminton court and swift goals but there is an opportunity for growth in the business sector via sports tourism.

The event is being conducted for corporate employees across 8 different cities such as Goa, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad and Trivandrum.

The Air India Express Corporate Sports League is titled sponsored by Air India Express, powered by Acer. The event is also sponsored by Evergreen County, Tonia Group, Goa Estates, Tunwal and Citroen. Goa Network7 PR & Events are the promoters of the event and the media partner is the Open Search National English Daily.

Tips from a professional are sure to come in handy, especially for first-timers. “I would suggest going out in the evenings and playing badminton for an hour to get a hang of the game and don’t forget to switch it up by playing doubles or singles to get a feel of the game,” advised Anura.

Aura Prabhudesai

Warm-up tips include proper stretching and a bit of running so that you don’t injure yourself. Another tip she shared is to practice your strokes so that you get the touch of the game. When it comes to doubles, teamwork makes the dream work, “take your time to gel with your partner so that there is coordination between you and your partner,” advised Anura.

Since the league is going all over India, her message is “to the players, don’t expect results soon. It takes five to six years to learn even just the basics after which you need to play a minimum of ten tournaments in a year so that there is exposure. Patience is key, and of course, hard work is always the way to success,” she added.

“The whole idea came about way back in 2014 when we realised that the corporates happen to play only in their comfort zone. We wanted to get the teams out of their different states and cities to enjoy the sport and learn from it. Goa is a vibrant city, it welcomes everyone with open arms and when you’re a sportsperson, I don’t think there is a better city that could explain the terminology of sports and fun together,” said Swarjeet.

“The corporate world has changed when it comes to sports. There are a lot of employees who are looking at physical fitness, and Goa is at the helm of our sporting events. Corporates can look at this as an exciting opportunity to come down to Goa and showcase their expertise all while taking a look at the local corporates, that is what the game plan is” he concluded.

The corporates can log onto the website www.goalzunlimited.com and register their teams.

The National Games is a testimony that Goa has professional capabilities and stunning stadiums and grounds with scenic views.

Goa has always been outstanding in the hospitality industry and to add to the glitz and glamour, sports tourism will be a wonderful platform for corporates to network and scout for avenues in Goa besides looking to engage local talent.