Length of contract: 4 years | Annualised value: US$250,000 | Overall value: US$1m

Sahara, the Indian conglomerate, has announced a deal that will see it sponsor the subcontinent's national boxing and wrestling squads, and the national boxing championships. Interest in the sports has increased in India after the country's bronze medal in each event contributed to a total of three medals - the country's most successful Olympics ever.

The deal will involve graded payments, based on performance, and financial support for training for 17 wrestlers and 13 boxers. That will include Vijender Kumar, the country's first boxing medallist, and Sushil Kumar, who won India's first wrestling medal since 1952.

Sahara will also head a campaign to increase the athletes' national exposure, and act as title sponsor of the national boxing championships. Finally, the company will pay to upgrade the facilities at the famous Bhiwani Boxing Club in Haryana and the Guru Hanuman Akhara in Delhi. Subrata Roy, the chairman of Sahara, said the selected boxers and wrestlers would have every need catered for so that they could focus totally on their sport.

Abhay Chautula, head of the Indian Boxing Federation (IBF), said the athletes' performances would be closely monitored. "They can't take the support for granted. If a player is under-performing, he will be replaced by another one," he insisted.

Wrestling Federation of India secretary-general Kartar Singh said: "Sahara's decision to sponsor the players has given us hope."

Sahara also sponsors the Indian national cricket team. Cricket is by far the most popular sport in India, with more than a billion fans. Roy claims the company are in discussions with English soccer club Manchester United over shirt sponsorship.