Season anticipated to be biggest ever before the Games of the Future 2026 in Kazakhstan

HONG KONG, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the World Phygital Community (WPC) announces the 2025/2026 ranking tournament season for athletes and clubs aiming to qualify for the Games of the Future in Kazakhstan next year. Running from August 1st to December 15th, 2025, the tournaments hosted by WPC members worldwide, will provide the opportunity for clubs and athletes to show their prowess in phygital sports and qualify to compete at the largest global phygital sport’s event next year.

During the season, phygital competitors will participate in a round of regional tournaments within each participating country called Phygital Origins, followed by national tournaments, which are called Phygital Rivals.

Dan Merkley, Chairperson of the WPC, said, “This new season will be the biggest ever. With 96 World Phygital Community members across 92 countries, this is the chance for anyone who wants to be part of this fast-growing phenomenon to step up and prove themselves. Phygital sport is for everyone, and we are eager to see which phygital superstars emerge this season.”

Tournaments can feature the following core disciplines: Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Shooter and Phygital Dancing. The first three consist of two stages—a digital round, where athletes compete in a video game version of the discipline, followed by a physical round, where they face off in a real-world version of the discipline. Phygital Dancing tournaments use well-known dancing video games to deliver the phygital experience in a single stage.

Following conclusion of these tournaments in December, rankings are calculated and the top two clubs and athletes in each discipline will go straight through to the Games of the Future 2026, while clubs and athletes placed 3^rd – 26^th will go through to the Phygital Contenders tournament to fight for their place at the event.

Prior to the season starting, all WPC members can apply to host Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals tournaments from May 1st till July 31st, 2025.

Notes to Editors:

About the World Phygital Community (WPC):

The World Phygital Community (WPC) is a non-profit, international organization that aims to promote phygital sport worldwide by uniting physical and digital communities globally. It is responsible for providing guardianship of the rules and regulations of phygital sport and hosting the Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals. The winners from the Phygital Origins progress to the Phygital Rivals, facing other Phygital Origins winners, for a chance to compete at the Games of the Future.

For more information please visit: https://worldphygital.org/

About the Games of the Future (GOTF):

 

The Games of the Future is an annual international event that fuses the worlds of physical and digital and is the pinnacle of phygital sport. The tournament brings together the next generation of phygital sporting heroes from all over the world to compete in a diverse range of phygital disciplines and challenges. The Games of the Future 2025 will be held in the UAE while The Games of the Future 2026 will be held in Kazakhstan.

For more information please visit: https://gofuture.games/

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MUMBAI, India, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — After a week of teaser-fueled anticipation, international iGaming company MelBet has finally unveiled its long-awaited advertising campaign featuring the flamboyant and glamorous Bollywood star Sherlyn Chopra. The teaser of the ad campaign has already sparked a wave of excitement across the internet, and now netizens are going gaga over the full ad – and for good reason. Furthermore, the ad has also caught the attention of industry experts, making waves in the latest iGaming industry news.

#LadyLuck

The ad takes viewers on a visually stunning journey, where Sherlyn, draped in opulence, captivates the screen with her magnetic presence. With effortless charisma, she invites players to dive into the world of MelBet and try new games. As the anticipation builds, the film takes a hilarious turn—when it’s time to wrap up, Sherlyn calls for someone to say ‘cut’, only to find that everyone is too engrossed in logging into the MelBet app to respond. The moment is pure gold, capturing the thrill and immersive excitement that the MelBet app delivers.

https://youtu.be/y_F2kouwkNI

A Viral Sensation in the Making

Even before its full release, the teaser has ignited social media. Fans are raving about Sherlyn’s dazzling look, the ad’s playful humor, and its high-energy appeal.

The campaign’s overwhelming response is a testament to the fact that gaming isn’t just about winning—it’s about the rush, the unpredictability, and the unforgettable moments along the way. In short, it is about adding emotions to the game.

Speaking about the ad, Sherlyn Chopra, said, “It was a real pleasure to shoot this campaign! MelBet is not just about a game, it’s a ton of emotion and excitement from a wide selection of entertainment, exciting promotions with high bonuses. Seeing people go crazy over the teaser already is so exciting! I’m thrilled for audiences to see the full version and, of course, to keep having fun with the MelBet app!”

A MelBet representative highlighted that Sherlyn Chopra brings a unique energy and charisma that aligns perfectly with MelBet’s vision. MelBet wanted this campaign to be bold, fun, and unforgettable, just like the brand—and Sherlyn delivers that effortlessly. The overwhelming response to the campaign proves that this campaign is striking the right chord. MelBet is confident that it will reinforce MelBet India app as the ultimate destination for entertainment.

About MelBet

MelBet is an international iGaming company founded in 2012 that has won the trust of millions of players thanks to its user-friendliness on all devices, partnership with leading game developers and 24/7 customer support. Clients of the brand regularly participate in numerous lucrative promotions, receiving bonuses and valuable prizes.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_F2kouwkNI

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MUMBAI, India, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Storytelling, cinema, and digital content took the spotlight at ‘Making WAVES – the Culture Forum’ hosted during the India Global Forum’s NXT25: Leading the Leap Summit at the Jio World Convention Centre on April 8. The forum brought together some of India’s most iconic voices across entertainment and media to explore the evolving narrative of India emerging as a global powerhouse for content and digital innovation.

In a Fireside Chat titled, ‘Making WAVES – India as a Global Content Hub’, renowned Director and Writer Imtiaz Ali, said: “As a storyteller, I do not have to worry about what everybody likes. The way to find out the code is by finding what I would like. Since I have been in the film industry, I have been told that formula (movie success) is not working. Thank God for that, because if the formula worked, none of us would be here making movies. We (India) have the oldest and most profound culture of storytelling. We learnt everything from storytelling. Everything has been learnt from stories, from the code of conduct to our belief system.”

Continuing the conversation, Monika Shergill, Vice President – Content, Netflix India, highlighted: “The beautiful confluence of creativity and technology has allowed the creators not to be limited to where they are. The biggest enabler of this trend is a resurgence of hyperlocal. Indian audiences are among the most experiential, diverse, curious, and fantastic audiences. As streamers, storytellers, and creators, we must take advantage of this opportunity.”

This was followed by a conversation with Ekta Kapoor, Joint MD, Balaji Telefilms LTD, on the Intersection of Art, Success & Global Influence. She said, “There are different metrics of success for everyone. At Balaji and I, as content providers, believe success comes in three or four ways: getting the economics right, creating impact, and earning recognition.” On a lighter note, when asked about the upcoming remake of her hit TV show, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Kapoor teased the return of actor and politician Smriti Irani, saying: “We are bringing politics into entertainment or a politician.”

Later, in a Fireside Chat on ‘Inspiring Journeys’, noted actress Fatima Sana Shaikh, opened up about the challenges she faced and said: “This industry has no set rules or frameworks; if it has worked for someone, it doesn’t mean it will work for you. Nothing is permanent, not the highs or lows. We cannot get too attached to fame or failure; work is not our identity.”

Talking about her inspiration, Fatima, said: “I enjoy Kangana’s work. She is an incredible actor. She was one of the first ones to come from the outside and do different movies, like Queen & Tanu Weds Manu.”

Co-hosted with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the Culture Forum also served as a precursor to the upcoming World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES). Speaking on the occasion, Achal Malhotra, CEO, WAVES, National Film Development Corporation Ltd., said: “Most of us have started hearing about WAVES very recently but this was envisioned by our Hon’ Prime Minister way back in 2019. We have done a lot of look and see of the other great shows happening around the world. Therefore, we realised that with technology the way we produce content and the way we are seeing content consumption and also content delivery is changing at a pace we really don’t know what’s going to be the next tool that’s going to come.”

Bringing together CEOs, policymakers, global investors, and industry disruptors, NXT25 explores the biggest trends shaping India’s future on the world stage, spotlighting India’s ambitions for the next 25 years and its emergence as a global powerhouse in investment, technology, sustainability, and innovation.

For session highlights and speaker insights, click here

The summit is supported by the UK Government, Government of Maharashtra, and the Commerce Ministry of India. Bloomberg TV is the official international media partner.

About India Global Forum

India Global Forum tells the story of contemporary India. The pace of change and growth India has set itself is an opportunity for the world. IGF is the gateway for businesses and nations to help seize that opportunity. To know more, click here.

Social Media Handles & Hashtag to Follow

Twitter: @IGFUpdates & @manojladwa

LinkedIn: India Global Forum

#IGFMumbai

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