Leadership Transition at Absolute Sports
Ajay Pratap Singh has officially stepped down as the CEO of Absolute Sports, the media powerhouse behind Sportskeeda, after a successful three-and-a-half-year tenure. Singh, who joined the company in 2019 as Head of Marketing and rose to CEO in 2022, is moving on to pursue his own entrepreneurial venture.
Portfolio Growth and Strategy
Under Singh’s leadership, Absolute Sports executed a rapid expansion strategy. The company evolved from a single-brand entity into a multi-vertical media group with eight distinct brands, including:
- Pro Football Network & College Football Network
- Deltia’s Gaming
- Soap Central
- TJRWrestling & ITRWrestling
- Primetimer
This growth occurred alongside parent company Nazara Technologies’ increasing investment, which culminated in full ownership of the subsidiary by March 2025.
Navigating Platform Volatility
The leadership exit arrives during a challenging period for the firm. Absolute Sports reported a 38.6% decline in revenue for FY26 (Rs 147 crore), down from Rs 239.6 crore in FY25. The company directly cited the impact of Google’s March 2025 core search update as a primary driver of reduced web traffic, a stark reminder of the risks associated with SEO-dependent business models.
Key Takeaways for Founders
- Platform Dependency: As evidenced by the recent traffic decline, reliance on single-channel distribution (Google search) remains a critical risk for media startups.
- Portfolio Diversification: Scaling through acquisition allowed Absolute Sports to spread brand risk across multiple niches, even if search algorithms impacted aggregate traffic.
- Culture as a Moat: Singh’s emphasis on the team culture created during his tenure highlights that employee retention and morale remain vital assets for startups operating through volatility.