LAS VEGAS, USA – Leo Dubai has made headlines at the 2025 London International Awards (LIA) by clinching the prestigious Grand LIA award in the Poster category. Their winning piece, titled “Jordan 23,” is part of a dynamic campaign known as “The Great Indian Dunk,” created for NBA India. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the agency and reflects a fresh approach to sports advertising in a cricket-dominant nation like India.
The campaign’s core mission was to carve out a space for basketball in a country where cricket reigns supreme. Leo Dubai smartly focused on showcasing unseen, authentic moments from everyday life across India. By doing so, they challenged the widespread notion that basketball is either elitist or foreign to the Indian culture. Rather than portraying basketball as a distant or exclusive sport, the campaign brought it closer to home through relatable and genuine storytelling.
One of the most compelling aspects of “The Great Indian Dunk” was its ability to capture candid, unscripted scenes of children engaging in playful, imaginative acts. Kids were shown jumping into ponds, hanging from elephant tusks, or leaping through branches—all while emulating the iconic dunks of NBA’s top MVPs. This clever representation struck a powerful chord, establishing a meaningful connection between the sport and India’s youth.
Beyond the Grand LIA winner “Jordan 23,” the campaign featured other notable works such as “Kobe 08,” “Lebron 06,” and “Shaq 34.” These pieces earned a remarkable haul of awards, including three Golds in the Billboard (Craft: Photography Campaign), Poster (Craft: Photography Campaign), and Print (Craft: Photography Campaign) categories. The artistry and photography standards were clearly exceptional, earning widespread recognition from the jury.
In addition to the Golds, the campaign’s success extended to four Silver awards spanning Poster (Craft: Art Direction Campaign), Poster (Sports Campaign), Print (Craft: Art Direction Campaign), and Print (Sports Campaign) categories. The campaign also secured two Bronzes in the Billboard category under Craft: Art Direction Campaign and Sports Campaign subcategories, underscoring the versatility and creative strength of the entire suite of works.
While Leo Dubai stole much of the spotlight, other agencies also showcased their creative prowess at LIA 2025. Ogilvy Mumbai, for example, nabbed a Bronze in the Ambient & Activation category for their socially impactful “Vi Guardian Beads” campaign for Vi (Vodafone Idea). On another front, China’s The Nine earned a Bronze in the Print (Craft: Photography Campaign) category with their “Magnificent Campaign.”
The judging panel for the Ambient & Activation, Billboard, Poster, and Print categories was led by DDB Worldwide President and Global Chief Creative Officer Chaka Sobhani. The jury handed out a total of three Golds, four Silvers, four Bronzes, and three Finalist awards, reflecting the high caliber of work presented at this year’s awards.
Credits for the standout campaign “The Great Indian Dunk” recognize an impressive team effort. Leo Dubai in Dubai spearheaded the campaign for NBA India, Mumbai. Important figures include Murtuza Madraswala, Head of Brand Marketing, and Rahul Palan, Senior Brand Manager for the client side. The Leo Dubai leadership team comprised CEOs Bassel Kakish and Nathalie Gevresse, Chief Creative Officer Kalpesh Patankar, and Executive Creative Director Muhammad Ali. Group Creative Directors Divyan Kriplani and Kapil Bhimekar, alongside a skilled creative, production, and strategy team, drove the project’s success forward with notable roles filled by Farhan Siddiqui, Mohammad Sharique, Sylvia Trinidade, Sami Saleh, Shereen Mostafa, Ajhar Hussain, Tahaab Rais, and Aakriti Goel.
This remarkable string of awards spotlights the innovative strides being made to elevate basketball’s presence in India while celebrating the creative vision and execution of the Leo Dubai team on a global stage.
(Note: adobo magazine served as an official media partner for the London International Awards 2025.)
