Cycle Pure Agarbathi Honours Forest Warriors at 14th Wildlife Service Awards

Bengaluru: Cycle Pure Agarbathi, India's leading agarbathi manufacturer, honoured forest watchers and guards for their exceptional contributions to the protection of India's forests and wildlife at the 14th Annual Wildlife Service Awards.

The event took place on June 6, 2026, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, marking the conclusion of the 14th edition of the KSCA Tiger Cup 2026. The cricket tournament, which ran from April 05 to May 10, 2026, in Bengaluru, was part of the broader initiative, Cricketers for Conservation.

This year’s edition featured 56 teams competing across multiple categories, including Under-12, Under-14 and Under-16, showcasing emerging talent from across Karnataka. This Public Trust organisation, founded by former Indian cricket legends Sandeep Patil, Yusuf Pathan, and Harbhajan Singh, is dedicated to wildlife conservation efforts across India. The Tiger Cup tournament is planned to be expanded in the coming year, with editions to be held across Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and other regions. This expansion aims to provide greater opportunities for young and emerging talent to showcase their skills on a wider platform.

Four dedicated forest soldiers from Karnataka were recognised for their unwavering commitment to protecting India's forests and wildlife. Four dedicated forest soldiers from Karnataka were recognised for their unwavering commitment to protecting India’s forests and wildlife.

The awardees include Shri Venkatesh Babu (Beat Forest Watcher, Veeranahosalli Wildlife Range, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, Shri Vinay Kumar E (Forest Watcher, Bannerghatta Wildlife Range, Bannerghatta National Park), Shri Sunil V Belavi (Bear Forester, Kollegala Wildlife Range, BRT Tiger Reserve) and Shri Sharanappa (Beat Forester, Sangama Wildlife Range, Cauvery Wildlife Division). Each of them was awarded a cash prize of ₹1,00,000 in recognition of their tireless service towards forest and wildlife conservation.

The event was graced by Dr B.K. Venkatesh Prasad, Former Indian Cricketer & KSCA President, as Chief Guest. Nikhil Ranga from Cycle Pure Agarbathi felicitated the forest heroes for their extraordinary dedication.

The occasion was attended by several distinguished guests, including Karthik Gurumurthy, CEO, Ten X You; Mohan Nagarajan, Chairman & MD, Sidvin Core Tech; Yugandhar Poola, CEO, SumanTV; Krishna Vasis, Co-founder, Moonwalkr; Kiran Singamsetti, Director, SumanTV; Bellippad Gunarajan Shetty, Joint Secretary, Wrestling Federation of India; and Biswajith Mishra, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife).

Speaking at the occasion, Dr Venkatesh Prasad, President, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), said, “The Tiger Cup is a unique initiative that beautifully brings together the spirit of cricket and the cause of wildlife conservation. It is encouraging to see sport being used as a platform to create awareness about protecting our forests and wildlife. I congratulate Cycle Pure Agarbathi and the organisers for sustaining this meaningful initiative over the years and for recognising the invaluable contributions of our forest personnel, who work tirelessly to safeguard our natural heritage. Such efforts inspire communities, especially young people, to become responsible stewards of the environment.”

Speaking at the event, Nikhil Ranga from Cycle Pure Agarbathi said, “It is an honour to recognise the dedicated forest soldiers from Karnataka for their unwavering commitment to conserving our wildlife and forests. At NR Group, we strongly believe in acknowledging those who work tirelessly to protect our natural heritage, and this award shines a spotlight on the dedication of our forest guards and watchers. Their commitment to preserving India’s rich biodiversity is truly commendable.”

Joseph Hoover, Cricket Coach, said, "Just like in cricket, where every player's effort counts toward the team's success, the unwavering dedication of our forest soldiers is crucial to preserving India's natural heritage. Their tireless work behind the scenes ensures the protection of our wildlife and ecosystems, reminding us all of the importance of teamwork and commitment, both on and off the field. They inspire us to safeguard the environment with the same passion and perseverance."

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