Bengaluru-based fitness startup Tagda Raho on Friday said it has raised investment from cricket legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni. With the undisclosed funding, the startup, focusing on traditional Indian strength training through traditional equipment and training programmes, operates training dugouts in Bengaluru and is set to launch its first dugout in Maharashtra in December followed by four to five additional states within the coming year.
Speaking on the investment, MS Dhoni said, “Intrinsically Indian, the equipment used in the workout has been a part of traditional strength training and Tagda Raho has expertly innovated and adapted both the equipment and the movements in a modern avatar.”
“The workout involves movements and an increased range of motion that activates several muscles that usually remain dormant, it focuses on your core, and stability and enhances your mobility. This is also excellent for athletes who are now looking at new forms of exercise to maintain their fitness levels and remain injury-free,” MS Dhoni added.
The startup said it has reinvented the “OG Indian Workout” by combining traditional equipment such as Indian clubs – the Gada, Mudgars, Vajra and Sumtola with a specially designed training regimen. The equipment and training programme have been used by professional teams and institutions including the Lucknow Super Giants, Haryana Steelers & the National Cricket Academy (NCA). The brand has also patented its modular equipment.
“Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been a role model for the country, he defines physical fitness and longevity in sport and we are extremely happy to have him back the Tagda Raho team and vision. His dedication to fitness and supporting homegrown brands perfectly aligns with our mission to empower individuals to lead healthier lives and add a new dimension to Indian physical culture,” said Rishabh Malhotra, Founder of Tagda Raho.
India’s exercise equipment market stood at $4.15 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow annually by 8.29 per cent between 2023 and 2028, as per data platform Statista. In global comparison, most revenue was generated in China at $12 billion in 2023.