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Tag: Inspire Institute of Sport

  • Gameskraft powers Indian athletes across track, field, para and archery

    Gameskraft powers Indian athletes across track, field, para and archery

    MUMBAI: When skill meets support, the scoreboard changes. That’s exactly what Gameskraft Foundation is banking on as it doubles down on India’s medal ambitions reaffirming partnerships with four key sporting foundations, the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), Anju Bobby Sports Foundation (ABSF), Gosports Foundation, and the Dola & Rahul Banerjee Sports Foundation (DRBSF).

    “Over the past few years, our partnerships have shown encouraging results,” said Rishi Wadhera, Vice President – Corporate Communications & CSR, Gameskraft. “It’s been heartening to see how consistent support can make a meaningful difference in the journeys of emerging athletes. Our focus remains on nurturing potential, building sustainable infrastructure, and supporting communities in their efforts to create future champions. These collaborations are a reflection of our continued commitment to contributing positively to India’s sporting ecosystem with a long-term vision and are grateful to our partners for their commitment.”

    Together, these collaborations form a medal-making machine supporting everything from para-athletes to archers and track stars, from grassroots training to global podiums.

    At IIS, the Foundation backs the Athletics Centre of Excellence, whose star pupil Neeraj Chopra took home Silver in Javelin at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At ABSF, a new academy is taking shape in Bengaluru to foster more future Shaili Singhs who leapt to Bronze in Long Jump at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships.

    Lauding the efforts of the Gameskraft Foundation and their long-term commitment to a robust sports-driven culture, Anju Bobby George, Founder of ABSF and India’s first medallist in the World Athletic Championship said, “Our association with Gameskraft Foundation has been anchored in a shared belief in long-term impact. The backing we’ve received is not just empowering for our training infrastructure but has been vital in inspiring young girls from small towns to dream bigger.”

    Gameskraft’s partnership with GoSports Foundation under the Para Champions Programme is a testament to inclusivity in sports. At the 2024 Paralympics, the results were golden literally with Sumit Antil and Dharambir grabbing Gold, Suhas Yethiraj securing Silver, and Rakesh Kumar bagging Bronze.

    In the archery arena, Deepika Kumari supported via DRBSF scored Bronze at the 2025 Archery World Cup, aiming true with Gameskraft in her corner.

    “For Indian sport to reach the success we aspire, it needs the coming together of more than just talent. Corporate India’s involvement in sport is pivotal, and some of our more prominent achievements have been a result of this support. At Gameskraft Foundation, we have people who are as obsessed with us about our Olympic ambitions. Together we have created a system for our athletes that gives them the best possible chance to succeed, and I am confident we will have more podiums coming from track and field in the near future.”, said Manisha Malhotra, President, Inspire Institute of Sport.

    The results are already on the leaderboard, but Gameskraft isn’t done yet. With every laurel and long jump, the foundation is showing that gaming companies can play a serious role in India’s Olympic journey not just virtually, but with real impact on real tracks.

    Now that’s how you level up.

  • JSW Sports and SRFI sign MoU to serve three more squash tourneys

    JSW Sports and SRFI sign MoU to serve three more squash tourneys

    MUMBAI: JSW Sports and the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) have struck a deal that’s set to turn India into a squash hotspot, announcing three more international tournaments on home soil. Fresh off the heels of the JSW Indian Open in Mumbai, where Anahat Singh reigned supreme, this partnership is serving up a volley of excitement.

    The landmark memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed by SRFI patron  N Ramachandran and Inspire Institute of Sport and JSW Sports founder & director Parth Jindal guarantees three years of world-class squash action, with Mumbai, New Delhi, and Chennai set to host the PSA Squash Copper tournaments.

    This isn’t just about tournaments; it’s about nurturing talent. The partnership will bring in top-tier coaches to work with Indian players, giving them a fighting chance against the world’s best as they eye the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics. With six players already in the top 100 world rankings, Indian squash is ready to make a racket.

    Parth Jindal, ever the sports enthusiast, declared, “We at JSW Sports are whole-heartedly standing in support of squash as we march on towards the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028. The idea is to bring high quality squash to the country as Indian players prepare for the ultimate dream.”

    N Ramachandran, equally enthusiastic, added, “We are delighted to be partnering with JSW Sports, they have been one of the pioneers in terms of working towards a robust sporting ecosystem in the country. The aim of this initiative is solely to give our Indian squash players a good platform to participate in as they keep one eye on the Olympics. The SRFI  is very excited for what’s in store in the next few years. May this lay the foundations for an Olympic medal in squash for India.”
     

    JSW Sports, known for its support of various sporting ventures, including JSW Bengaluru FC and the Delhi Capitals, is now adding squash to its roster. With the Inspire Institute of Sport already making waves, this partnership is set to be a smash hit for Indian squash.

  • Britannia Marie Gold & IIS launch ‘HerSpark’ to ignite women’s sports careers

    Britannia Marie Gold & IIS launch ‘HerSpark’ to ignite women’s sports careers

    MUMBAI: Some sparks start wildfires, and Britannia Marie Gold, in partnership with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), has just ignited one with ‘HerSpark’—a groundbreaking sports scholarship programme exclusively for women athletes in India. Designed to scout, train, and propel future champions, this initiative provides a fully funded three year scholarship worth Rs 45 lakh to young women eager to break barriers in boxing, swimming, judo, athletics, and parasports.

    Through this initiative, female athletes across India will gain access to world-class training, coaching, lodging, nutrition, and educational opportunities. And it gets even better—athletes will train under legendary Olympians and Continental champions, including Mamuka Kizilashvili (Judo) and Yoandris Betanzos Francis (Athletics), ensuring they receive the highest level of mentorship.

    HerSpark isn’t for the faint-hearted—it’s designed to find the best. The selection process unfolds across multiple stages:

    . Over 1,000 shortlisted athletes will compete in round one selection trials at IIS centres across India.

    .  Those who qualify will advance to two-day regional selection camps at eight key locations.

    . The top contenders will undergo an exclusive three-week elite training camp at IIS Vijayanagar.

    . Only the best will win the coveted three-year scholarship—setting them on a path to national and international glory.

    The HerSpark scholarship is open to Indian female athletes aged 14 and above. Minors (under 18) require parental or guardian consent. Applications are available via the official HerSpark website.

    Britannia Marie Gold has long been a champion for women’s empowerment, leading initiatives such as HerStartup and Her.Store to foster financial independence and entrepreneurship. Britannia Industries general manager – marketing Siddharth Gupta reaffirmed this commitment, “Britannia Marie Gold believes that every woman possesses an innate spark—the potential to achieve more. With ‘HerSpark,’ we extend this commitment to sports, providing young female athletes with the opportunity, training, and mentorship they need to reach their highest potential.”

    IIS president Manisha Malhotra echoed this enthusiasm, “We at IIS are thrilled to join hands with Britannia Marie Gold—a brand that is doing so much to empower women. Through this partnership, we are launching a nationwide scouting programme to identify young female athletes and equip them with the skills and guidance needed to succeed on the biggest stage. We cannot wait to see the success that comes out of this effort.”

    Founded by JSW Group, the Inspire Institute of Sport is a privately funded Olympic Sport Programme with a high-performance centre in Vijayanagar and satellite centres across Manipur, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Odisha.

    With HerSpark, Britannia Marie Gold and IIS are not just offering scholarships—they are shaping the next generation of champions. So, young women of India, are you ready to unleash your spark?

  • PadelPark India secures funding from Parth Jindal

    PadelPark India secures funding from Parth Jindal

    Mumbai: PadelPark India, a key player in the padel sport ecosystem in India, has secured new funding from JSW Sports and Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) founder Parth Jindal.

    Padel, a racquet sport originating in Mexico, has gained traction in Europe and globally. The number of courts worldwide has increased from about 10,000 in 2016 to over 50,000 in 2024, with projections reaching around 60,000 by 2026. Last year, over 2,500 Padel clubs opened globally.

    The global padel industry is valued at over $2.2 billion, with more than 25 million players across 110 countries, and is expected to grow at an annual rate of 22 per cent, reaching $6.6 billion by 2026. This growth is driven by rising sports interest, the appeal of new activities, endorsements by public figures, and increasing international competitions. With 23 per cent of India’s population participating in sports, the country holds significant potential, with 232 million potential padel players.

    Commenting on his investment in PadelPark India, JSW Sports & IIS founder Parth Jindal said, “PadelPark is building an ecosystem for the sport of Padel in the country, ranging from establishing the necessary infrastructure to creating a coach and student education program to establishing a robust tournament framework. The Founders’ vision of expanding access through innovation and community building aligns perfectly with our own vision of transforming India into a sporting nation. Padel is a fast-growing global sport that I have no doubt will become an Olympic sport in the future and I am excited to work with the PadelPark team to increase the popularity of the sport in India.”

    Commenting on the Investment, PadelPark co-founder Ronak Daftary said, “We are excited to have Parth & his team on board with us and share his vision of making India the largest producer and distributor of Padel courts in the world. We firmly believe that Parth is the right person to help regulate the sport in India.”

    Headquartered in Mumbai, and self-funded since its inception in 2020, PadelPark India is committed to being at the forefront of the growth of Padel infrastructure in India and Asia through a strategic partnership with Sky Padel, a leading Spanish organisation. The company also operates the Indian Padel Academy, which offers coaching and training both at a grassroots and advanced level providing players in India an opportunity to compete at an International level.

    PadelPark’s co-founders – Ronak Daftary, Jigar Doshi, Nikhil Sachdev and Pratik Doshi – bring extensive experience in managing sports infrastructure and share a profound passion for promoting sports adoption across India.

    Currently, PadelPark India operates 11 padel courts in Mumbai and has constructed over 22 courts for various sports clubs, hotels, resorts, and corporate entities. Some of their notable clients include the Willingdon Sports Club, NSCI club, JSW Inspire Institute of Sport, Marriot Suites and many more. Given its growth focus, PadelPark India plans to establish more than 100 Padel clubs across the country over the next few years through a combination of its own as well as franchise-run centers.

    The new funding will be deployed in scaling up their infrastructure and enhancing the offerings of their academy and events.

    PadelPark India is on track to deliver 40 padel courts in the next three months, open 15 padel centers/clubs in the next 60 days and train 250 people from next month.

    PadelPark India will also host the largest on-ground Padel tournament India has seen with 90 teams and top-tier sponsors on 23 August.

  • JSW Group opens exhibition in Paris to commemorate 100 years of India at the Olympic Games

    JSW Group opens exhibition in Paris to commemorate 100 years of India at the Olympic Games

    Mumbai: The JSW Group marked Olympic Day with the inauguration of an exhibition that celebrates life and legacy of Pierre de Coubertin, the Founder of the Olympic Movement, along with commemorating 100 years of India’s presence at the Games, in the host city of Paris, on Sunday.

    JSW Foundation’s chairperson Sangita Jindal and Inspire Institute of Sport founder, Parth Jindal were joined by president of the IOC, Thomas Bach, Minister of Culture, Madame Rachida Dati, Ambassador of India to the Republic of France, His Excellency Jawed Ashraf and the President of the Pierre de Coubertin Family Association, Mrs. Alexandra de Navacelle to open the exhibition that will be hosted at the Town Hall of the 7th Arrondissement, Paris, and will go on till the end of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in September.

    Speaking on the occasion, JSW Foundation chairperson Sangita Jindal said, “JSW Group is pleased to support the curation of ‘100 Years of India at Olympics’ at the Genius of Sport exhibition in Paris. Through this unique Exhibition, we celebrate the life and legacy of Pierre De Coubertin and 100 years of India’s remarkable Olympic journey and success. We share Pierre De Coubertin’s vision and belief that Sport has the ability to change the world differently by transcending borders and bringing people together in the spirit of peace and friendship. The 2024 Olympics is an important milestone for JSW Group. We are proud to support this exhibition as well as Team India in Paris.  Through these efforts we reiterate our commitment to foster and nurture the sporting culture and talent in India.”

    The exhibition, in association with the Pierre de Coubertin Family Association, comprises a detailed walkthrough of India’s Olympic journey over the last century, the success the country has enjoyed in the past, and its recent resurgence with an eye on the future.

    Inspire Institute of Sport founder Parth Jindal said, “We are honoured to partner with the Pierre de Coubertin family for what we believe is a special showcase of the Olympic movement and the part India has played in it. We are on the cusp of the greatest sporting event in the world, and it was our desire at JSW to do something more in the city of Paris. As a country, we want to take forward the ideals of Pierre de Coubertin. We want the world to be a peaceful place, and the role that sport could play in that regard, is enormous.

    It is our mission at JSW Sports to further the Olympic movement, not just in India, but in the world. The Inspire Institute of Sport will be represented by close to 30 athletes as part of Team India at the Games next month, and our effort is to keep increasing that number with every passing Olympic cycle. India’s rise as an economic power is evident. But it is through sport that a country’s soft power is truly showcased, and we will play our part in making this happen.

    IOC president Thomas Bach said, “Thanks to this magnificent exhibition, the public will be able to discover and rediscover an astonishing and multi-faceted man and measure the extent of his work. France and the French people should be proud to have a compatriot like Pierre de Coubertin. A visionary whose message of a world united in peaceful competition through sport resonates even more strongly today.”

    His excellency Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to the Republic of France, thanked the JSW Group for putting together the exhibition that will be on until September 10 and will be open to the public.

  • JSW Group’s initiatives drive team India’s success at Asian Games

    JSW Group’s initiatives drive team India’s success at Asian Games

    Mumbai: India wrapped up what was the country’s most successful Asian Games campaign in Hangzhou, China, last week, with an unprecedented haul of 107 medals to finish fourth overall. The historic campaign had a few prominent factors behind its success, with JSW Group-led initiatives being among the forefront on that list.

    The JSW Group has, for a decade now, been pioneering a sporting movement in India through the JSW Foundation, JSW Sports, and the Inspire Institute of Sport, with a special focus on helping India succeed at the Olympic Games.

    Speaking on JSW Group’s holistic contribution to Indian sport and its subsequent impact on India’s performance at the Asian Games, JSW Sports and Inspire Institute of Sport founder Parth Jindal, said, “It gives all of us at the JSW Group immense pride to have played a pivotal part in India’s most successful Asian Games campaign yet. The JSW Group, through its initiatives, has been committed to transforming India into a sporting powerhouse and to see the effort yield consistent results in big-stage competitions is a testament to the work being put in.

    “The JSW Foundation, has for years now, been supporting the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), and more recently, the Government of Odisha’s swimming programme. The Inspire Institute of Sport has been our flagship high-performance centre with satellite centres in Himachal, Hisar, Odisha, and Manipur. Some of the biggest names in corporate India have joined hands with us in our movement. The role we have played in India’s success at Hangzhou has only fuelled our desire to succeed in Paris next year.”

    The Indian shooters bagged a staggering 22 medals, while the boxers picked five medals – four of those sealing berths at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. India’s swimming contingent, meanwhile, broke six national records while competing in China. The partnership with the NRAI involves supporting the coaches, while extensively aiding their data collection and analysis. With BFI, the Foundation’s support extends to organising and hosting national events, facilitating foreign coaching staff and even arming the Federation with a Performance Director.

    In Odisha, the JSW Foundation has initiated an end-to-end programme in conjunction with the Government to culture in aquatics. Currently, the programme is active in 15 different centres, impacting over 5000 children, with the numbers only set to double over the next five years. The programme also involves a team of highly experienced coaches who are working to create a pipeline of talent who will have an impact on high-performance swimming in the near future.

    According to JSW Foundation chairperson Sangita Jindal, “India is a nation of aspiring athletes. About a decade ago, there was a significant gap in the training, development & funding opportunities India offered to talented youngsters to pursue a career in sports. Hence, we launched the Sports Excellence Program as our proprietary CSR project to support Indian Olympic athletes. Over the years, we have also launched various interventions across all our direct impact zones to identify and nurture young rural sporting talent. These sporting gems are identified at an early age and our team helps to build their capacity through a holistic programme. They are then taken to Inspire Institute of Sport for further training to shape them for international championships.  Through our focus on world-class training  infrastructure, coaching and sports science, we are  confident of nurturing a new generation of  Olympic Sports champions for India.”

    The Inspire Institute of Sport had 31 athletes from on its roster represent Team India in China, and 17 from among those returned with medals. (Four gold, eight silver and five bronze). Neeraj Chopra, Avinash Sable, Parul Chaudhary and Men’s 4×400 relay team were among those who won Gold.

    The IIS, while spearheaded by the JSW Group, is also supported by close to 30 donors from corporate India, including entities like Citi India, IndusInd Bank, Kotak, Borosil and Gameskraft Foundation. This is in line with the IIS’ vision of assembling corporates to contribute and lead India’s charge to Olympic glory.

    “Through our long-standing association with JSW’s Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), I have witnessed first-hand how programs such as those run by IIS can positively impact our athletes’ performance, their careers across sporting arenas, and their long-term development. Programs such as these certainly raise the bar and encourage the next generation of sportspeople. We are very proud of our athletes from India and the work done by IIS. On behalf of Citi, our best wishes and congratulations to all the participants from India at the Asian Games,” said Citi India CEO Ashu Khullar.

    Kotak Mahindra Bank senior EVP and head CSR Himanshu Nivsarkar said, “Kotak Mahindra Bank has funded Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) under CSR Project that trains Indian Boxers and it gives us immense pride that Kotak’s CSR Project with IIS has contributed to put Indian Boxers on the world map. We congratulate all Indian Boxers for their performance at the recently concluded Asian Games 2023 held at Hangzhou, China. We wish all Boxers to train hard to get more medals at Paris Olympics 2024.”

    The support the IIS extends its athletes is holistic in the truest sense of the term. In Borosil, the Institute has a food & nutrition partner, and Borosil managing director Shreevar Kheruka, said he was encouraged by the progress Indian sport has made in the recent past. “We are delighted to support the Inspire Institute of Sport as Food & Nutrition Partners, and to see our athletes pick up 17 medals in Hangzhou was a moment of great pride for all of us at Borosil. Over the years we’ve seen a lot of progress in Indian sport, and a lot of credit goes towards the people working behind the scenes at the Institute. We believe the Asian Games is yet another chapter in what will be a very long line of success stories for the IIS.”