Bengaluru, Jan 2, 2026 — Hyper Sports and Welfare Trust has announced the Karnataka Media Champions League 2026, a 15-day cricket tournament that will feature teams from 24 television news channels and carry messages on cervical cancer prevention and HPV vaccination across the state.

The Trust said the league is planned as a media-only competition, with matches to be aired live on regional television so the awareness message reaches viewers beyond major cities.

An invitation event for the tournament was held on December 26 in Bengaluru at Vividas Hotel, attended by representatives from news channels and people linked to sports and public health outreach, according to details shared by the organisers.

The Trust said founder and chairman Kiran Shetty is leading the programme, with vice president Jagdeesh handling event operations and secretary Vijay Shankar coordinating with participating channels and broadcasters.

Organisers said the coverage during the tournament will focus on early warning signs, the need for timely screening, and the role of HPV vaccination in reducing the risk of cervical cancer. They added that the aim is to make the topic easier to discuss at home and encourage families to seek guidance from qualified health workers and doctors.

The league comes as HPV vaccination is getting wider attention in India. In the Union Budget speech on February 1, 2024, the Finance Minister spoke about promoting HPV vaccination for girls, and public health groups have continued to call for broader access through government programmes.

Globally, the World Health Organization has set “90–70–90” targets for 2030, including vaccinating 90{3ed7819c3563dca85364f9c966d48c284cd3d43c23a196a6bbb99b5b9eebb247} of girls by age 15, screening 70{3ed7819c3563dca85364f9c966d48c284cd3d43c23a196a6bbb99b5b9eebb247} of women by ages 35 and 45, and ensuring treatment for those found with disease.