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Tag: Sports For All

  • Star Sports wins National Award for redefining inclusivity in broadcasting!

    Star Sports wins National Award for redefining inclusivity in broadcasting!

    MUMBAI: Why should feeling different ever mean being left out? In a world striving to embrace inclusivity, breaking biases and fostering equality isn’t just a moral obligation – it’s a celebration of humanity. Star Sports has shattered one of the most profound – the exclusion of differently-abled sports enthusiasts. In a groundbreaking leap towards inclusivity, India’s premier sports network has been recognised with the National Award for Institutions Engaged in Empowering Persons with Disabilities 2024. This honour, bestowed by the president of India, Droupadi Murmu, applauds a revolutionary initiative that has changed the game forever. With their sign language and descriptive commentary feed, Star Sports is not just broadcasting sports but building bridges, connecting Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and Visually Impaired fans to the electrifying pulse of live sports like never before.

    Star Sports’ efforts to break communication barriers and expand access to live sports have been transformative. By addressing the needs of differently-abled fans, the network has set a benchmark in inclusive broadcasting, ensuring that no fan is left behind in the excitement of live sports.

    Expressing gratitude for the recognition, a Star Sports spokesperson said, “We are deeply honoured to receive this prestigious National Award. It reflects the dedication of our team to making sports accessible to all fans. Initiatives like the Sign Language and Descriptive Commentary Feed are integral to our mission of uniting sports lovers, regardless of their abilities. This award motivates us to continue innovating and ensuring inclusivity in sports broadcasting.”

    Star Sports plans to expand its commitment to inclusivity by exploring new ways to enhance the sports-viewing experience for all audiences, reaffirming its role as a leader in the broadcasting industry.
     

  • SFA & TV9 kick off U-14 football talent hunt

    SFA & TV9 kick off U-14 football talent hunt

    Mumbai: Sports For All (SFA) has partnered with TV9 Network to support the ‘Indian Tigers and Tigresses’ campaign, a talent hunt for under-14 boys and girls. At the ongoing SFA Championships in Hyderabad, footballers can register for the campaign at a kiosk. The SFA Championships feature over 23,000 students from nearly 400 schools, running from 15 to 28 October, 2024.

    SFA chief revenue officer Darpan Kumar said, “We are excited to partner with TV9 and the ‘Indian Tigers and Tigresses’ at the SFA Championships in Hyderabad. This collaboration strengthens our mission to inspire young athletes and promote grassroots sports excellence across India, fostering the next generation of sporting talent.”

    TV9 Network MD & CEO Barun Das said, “The News9 ‘Indian Tigers & Tigresses’ initiative is a matter of great pride for us, as takes football in a whole new direction in India. We envision a future where Indian footballers are given opportunities to be in the global spotlight akin to any of the major footballing nations in the West. This is also one of the pillars that need to be leveraged in India’s ascendancy in the global head table. That starts by giving these players a level playing field, by making football a serious career option for these talented youngsters, and training them to be world-class players from a young age. This is not just about finding out what you are good at – it is about opening doors and lighting up thousands of dreams.”

    The ‘Indian Tigers and Tigresses’ campaign, launched in April 2024 through a partnership with football organisations such as DFB, Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund, the International Football Institute, and others, aims to provide young football talent global exposure. The SFA Championships are part of SFA’s initiative to professionalise, organise, and monetise grassroots sports in India. The 2024-25 championships will be held in 10 cities, with 150,000 students from over 7,000 schools competing in 31 sports.

    All matches, including football, will be streamed live on Sfaplay.com.

  • Nagaland Olympic Association partners with SFA

    Nagaland Olympic Association partners with SFA

    Mumbai: Nagaland Olympic Association (NOA) and Sports For All (SFA), have announced a strategic partnership to strengthen the grassroots ecosystem in the state. The announcement was made in attendance of esteemed dignitaries, Neiphiu Rio chief minister of Nagaland; Y Patton deputy CM, Nagaland; Abu Metha advisor to CM  and chairman IDAN and Neivikuolie Khatsu, assistant secretary general, NOA, along with SFA team represented by Rishikesh Joshi, founder and Tilak Kakkad, director’s office. This partnership marks a significant step towards the realization of the shared vision to encourage sports participation, empower talent, and build a platform for athletes to showcase their skills on a larger stage.  

    Nagaland, known for its rich cultural heritage, has been making commendable strides in sports. The recently announced Nagaland Olympic & Paralympic Games 2024 across 16 sporting disciplines underscore the state’s dedication to creating opportunities for athletes. Archery, Athletics, Badminton,  Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Football, etc. are some of the key sports of the state. Previously, Nagaland has also produced some great sportsmen like Dr. T Ao (the first captain of the Indian Olympic football team)  and Chekrovolu Swuro (Olympian archer and Arjuna Awardee).  

    Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio shared, “Nagaland Olympic Association and  Sports For All (SFA), together aim to create an environment that encourages sports at the grassroots level and ignites a passion for excellence. Our aim is to bring about sustainable change for our state, through sports. Introducing a sporting culture in school, strengthening the same in college, and creating a strong ecosystem for women athletes and coaches, are key initiatives that make Nagaland a great contender to host the National Games”.  

    Adding to this revolutionary association, expressed IDAN advisor to CM and chairman Abu Metha,  “This partnership is aligned with our vision to broaden the sporting ecosystem in Nagaland and offer an opportunity for our athletes to test their capabilities and gain exposure. We are looking forward to the journey of triumph and personal growth that lies ahead for our athletes, our future Champions”.

    SFA, India’s largest tech-enabled multi-sports school competition platform, has been working towards the development of the grassroots sports ecosystem of the country, since its inception in 2015. Through this partnership, the company will facilitate its flagship IP – SFA Championships – a pivotal platform for developing grassroots sports in the state and the country. The commitment of the NOA and the  Government of Nagaland will be a catalyst in the discovery of sporting talent at the SFA Championships.  

    Speaking on the partnership, Sports For All (SFA) founder Rishikesh Joshi elaborated, “The partnership with Nagaland Olympic Association strengthens our mission to enable a platform for the country’s youth to compete and play sports. Nagaland has seen significant growth in terms of sporting infrastructure and budding athletes, and this association will assist in furthering the sporting ecosystem of the state and our country. After having created a valuable impact across 9 cities within a span of three months, SFA  Championships will now make a debut in the North-East, the grounds of emerging sporting potential”.

    With the forward path to host 150 Championships across 50 cities of India, in the next five years, this partnership is a move forward in making sports accessible for school athletes across the country, thereby empowering today’s talent to become the Champions of tomorrow. The journey to represent the country at the Olympics is what SFA Championships is enabling for emerging athletes. 

  • Khelo India Youth Games and Sports For All are all set to revolutionise grassroots sports India

    Khelo India Youth Games and Sports For All are all set to revolutionise grassroots sports India

    Mumbai: The much-awaited Khelo India Youth Games 2023, Tamil Nadu edition began on 19 January 2024, with competitions being held across four cities – Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai,  and Trichy. The Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) is a flagship competition where emerging sporting talent is inspired and motivated, to harness their potential as future Champions. With the aligned commitment  to transform grassroots sports in India across disciplines, Sports For All (SFA) continues the commitment  towards Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG), in the second year of the sponsorship.  

    Sports Authority of India (SAI) DDG Ekta Vishnoi shared, “Propelling India onto the global sporting  map begins with discovering India’s untapped sporting talent. Khelo India Youth Games was launched with  the vision to bring about change in the country’s sporting ecosystem, at the grassroots level. Aligning our  commitment with the strength that Sports For All (SFA) has been building, is what makes this partnership  a landmark in developing a sporting nation. Hosting the games for the first time in southern India, the  debut of squash and Tamil Nadu’s oldest weapon-based martial arts form Silambam, launching the first  woman mascot – these firsts narrate the new era of sports in the country, and we are proud to have team  SFA join this journey.”

    SFA has been an integral part of the Khelo India Youth Games in Haryana, Pune and Guwahati. In 2023,  coming on board as the ‘powered by’ sponsor, SFA committed an investment of Rs. 12.5crores (for five  years), emphasizing on the unwavering dedication to discover young sporting talent in the country. As  sponsors, SFA gets on-ground branding and the company’s logo is displayed on the player jerseys. This  year (2024) for Khelo India Youth Games(KIYG), SFA is organizing the on-ground games across Tamil Nadu,  providing their rich expertise in managing multi-sport experiences.

    Speaking about the partnership, Sports For All (SFA) COO Rajas Joshi elaborated, “At SFA, our aim is to  enable athletes to begin their sporting journey with SFA Championships and eventually represent at the State, National and International platforms. Our partnership with Khelo India Youth Games is a perfect  synergy of our shared vision to empower young athletes and provide them with a platform to showcase  their incredible talent. Having seamlessly conducted editions of Khelo India Youth Games, two editions of National Games and more than 21 SFA Championships, our efforts are focused to contribute significantly  towards the development of grassroots sports, in India”. 

  • Sports For All (SFA) and Viacom18 partnership to bring SFA Championships 2023-2024 on digital and television

    Sports For All (SFA) and Viacom18 partnership to bring SFA Championships 2023-2024 on digital and television

    National, November 23, 2023: With the presentation of SFA Championships on JioCinema, Sports18- 2, and Sports18 Khel channels, school sporting competitions will now make their way to digital &  television. The partnership of Sports For All (SFA), India’s largest tech-enabled multi-sport grassroots  competition platform and Viacom18, will together make school sports accessible to millions of sports  fans, across the country.  

    Being home to the most prolific sporting action, Viacom18’s portfolio is curated to engage fans in fresh  ways and remove barriers to accessibility, affordability, and languages through digital. The partnership  will also further their effort to carve a domain for youth sports. The collaboration is an extension of  SFA’s own commitment to make sports accessible to all, especially at the school level. Bringing SFA  Championships, the flagship IP by SFA, on Television and OTT will assist in radically transforming the  school sporting ecosystem, in the country.  

    “The partnership with Sports For All (SFA) is our bid to make sporting action from the grassroots level  accessible by harnessing the power of digital,” said Viacom 18 Sports content head TV and digital  Siddharth Sharma. “We endeavour to continue spotlighting school-level talent by including SFA  Championships in our portfolio.”

    Viacom18 will present the best action from the SFA Championships 2023-2024 starting 3 December on JioCinema, Sports18-2, and Sports18 Khel channels. This calendar year, the city-based model of  SFA Championships is scheduled across Indore, Jaipur, Uttarakhand (Dehradun), Hyderabad, Pune,  Mumbai, Bangalore, Nagpur, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. With the broadcast of SFA Championships,  schools across the country will be able to recognise the sporting potential that their athletes can  further harness. Thus, showcasing the untapped talent from schools, competing in more than 30  sporting categories and picking the prestigious title of ‘number one school in sports’ in that city.  

    “Partnering with Viacom18 is indeed a historic moment, in bringing Indian school sports to the centre  stage. The country will now join in to witness the incredible potential of our young athletes”, shared SFA founders Vishwas Choksi and Rishikesh Joshi. “Our aim is to enthuse viewers to witness the  journey of future champions, through our broadcast content. The SFA Championships entail an  international sporting experience through equitable access to world class infrastructure, match videos,  analytics and insights for school athletes. Every episode will showcase the energy and sporting talent  of that city, their trials and tribulations and how every athlete contributes in identifying the ‘number  one school in sports’, for their city”.  

    SFA Championships are India’s largest multi-sport school competitions, enabling an opportunity for  youth to unleash their fullest potential through joyful and inspiring sporting experiences. These  Championships are revolutionising the way school sports are experienced in India. The vision is to host 150 championships across 50 cities, in the next five years. Building a single unifying platform to

    discover talent at the click of a button, across multi-sports, is how SFA has envisioned to encourage  two lakh athletes to play at the 10 SFA Championships within a span of four months, for the 2023-2024  season.