Dhruv Mullick’s only agenda is to bet on sporting talent that is off the beaten track. Inspired by the celluloid story Jerry Maguire, city-based Dhruv has set his sights on the Indian hockey team. A sports entrepreneur, Dhruv is building the brands of two promising hockey players — Raghunath and SK Uthappa just before the Olympics season heats up.
“My idea is to get hockey to a platform where these fantastic players are identified by even school kids. To build brands which can compete with leading cricketers’ brands. But this is just the beginning and we are taking baby steps,” says the entrepreneur. With the London Olympics fast approaching, Dhruv thought this was the right time to build a glamorous image of a much neglected sport. “Raghunath is a typical Kodava lad. His brutal strength as a drag-flicker and commitment to the sport makes him the perfect poster boy of the team. While Uthappa’s talent and the coach’s (Michael Nobb) high ranking, makes him a bankable player. These traits make them brands in themselves,” says Dhruv.
But the going hasn’t been easy. “It is extremely difficult in a cricket-crazy nation to sell non-cricket sports. But the tougher the challenge, the better it gets. The only focus now is to get them as much exposure as possible before the Olympics,” says the shrewd marketing professional. Dhruv who has a BA honours in international business and economics, has trained as a sports brand manager under big names of the Indian sports arena. But his most memorable experience was with cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar. “The opportunity to work for him and interact with him, is something that I cherish even to this day,” says Dhruv.
Though hockey is his favourite sport, he cannot hide his love for cricket. Not just for school teams, he also managed to play the first cricket season at the university in London. “I played for Regents College during 2004 just for the first season,” he reminisces, adding, “I have a Sunday cricket club with friends. I also play a bit of hockey. But my skills lie off the field,” says Dhruv.
His plan ahead is to ensure that both Raghunath and Uthappa’s brands take off in a big way. The smart entrepreneur concludes by remembering his favourite line from Jerry Maguire, “Show me the money.” And we do hope that hockey as a sport can do that.
source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> Tabloid> Bengaluru / by Ayesha Tabassum, DC / April 26th, 2012
