Backstage with sporting legends

Abhishek Ganguly shares Puma's memories from interactions with athletes around the globe

Few jobs come with the kind of perks Abhishek Ganguly enjoys. As the managing director of Puma India and the global cricket head for the German sportswearcompany, Ganguly has had the privilege of meeting some of the finest cricketers and sportspersons. Though he usually keeps it professional, he couldn't resistfrom taking a picture with Sachin Tendulkar and Usain Bolt. Ganguly reminisces about sporting interactions that have left an impression on him.

Sourav Ganguly

Sourav is the first ambassador of the brand I represent in India and we still have an association with him. He is an amazing person, soft-spoken and a believer in cricket as a sport. The brashness that people associate with him comes from his passion, which is infectious when you meet him.


Usain Bolt

There cannot be a better ambassador for our brand than Usain Bolt. He's the world's most marketable athlete. He loves attention and he gets so much of it. I have never seen anybody else visiting India and get so much attention as Usain Bolt.


Adam Gilchrist
Whenever he was in India, he would come over to our offi ce. A few years ago during IPL, he sustained an injury. Incidentally, I, too, had a ligament tear in my knee at that time. And he would pick me on it, “Kings XI needs me to get fit, but I am bothered about your fitness."



Rahul Dravid

I met Rahul when our brand sponsored the Rajasthan Royals team during IPL. It was almost eight years back, but I fondly remember some of the great dinners we had together at his place in Indira Nagar. When I grow old, I will probably tell people about my association with cricket when Rahul Dravid was playing.

Yuvraj Singh

I have seen him evolve from an impatient youngster to the champion he became. We actually became friends when he was going through a bad phase after being diagnosed with cancer. I remember, before his treatment in the US, we went for a shoot in Munich. He was worried. So, we spent an evening at a restaurant, where he almost made me fall off my chair laughing with hilarious stories from Indian cricket. If one can have a funny bone in such a difficult phase, he must be someone amazing.


Makhaya Ntini
He was such a hilarious person. He would dance around, anytime at any place. In fact people had to hold him back during formal events and tell him not break into a dance every time.