Sport has the power to uplift lives - shaping healthier children, stronger communities, and a brighter future for the nation. Although still underrepresented in CSR funding, the momentum is growing for ‘sports for development’ in India, championed by national efforts like NEP 2020, Khelo India, and a wave of impactful CSR-driven programs.

At Sportz Village Foundation, our flagship #SportForChange program is creating a measurable impact across key development areas - health, education, gender empowerment, and youth leadership - while nurturing a strong pipeline of sporting talent for India.

This edition brings you stories of transformation, purpose-led partnerships, and the growing movement to get every child in India to play.

Spotlight: PathwayZ36 launch with Anju Bobby George

In February, we launched PathwayZ36, our new talent development initiative, with support from Campus Activewear Ltd. The program aims to identify & nurture sporting talent from our partner schools and grassroots communities. The launch event, graced by Padma Shri Anju Bobby George, also introduced our first cohort of 20 student-athletes selected from 1,100+ aspirants.

Khel Protsahan Pratiyogita: Powering dreams in Odisha

14 teams from nine schools came together for an interschool Kho Kho & Kabaddi tournament supported by TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited. The event was a true display of strength, strategy, agility & teamwork. Khel Protsahan Pratiyogita was a testament to the indomitable spirit of student-athletes, proving that anything is attainable with talent, guidance & perseverance.

ASK Foundation x Sportz Village Foundation: Sports for community impact

In Akole, Maharashtra, our partnership with ASK Foundation is transforming lives through structured sports. A recent interschool tournament saw enthusiastic participation from eight local teams — fostering health, confidence, and community pride.

Bajaj Finserv’s game plan for change

In Pune, our program with Bajaj Finserv is dedicated to improving overall fitness, increasing school attendance & fostering Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) skills. Though still in its early stages, the initiative has impacted 3K+ children across 15 schools. The recent interschool tournament, featuring 30 teams, stands as a testament to the program's growing momentum and positive impact.

Khelo Dadri’s medal rush & new sports infrastructure unveiled

Khelo Dadri athletes displayed exceptional talent at the HCL Foundation’s Sports For Change Championship, securing medals across multiple sports. The debut of the Girls’ Cricket team was a proud moment. Additionally, the launch of the new sports infrastructure by Shiv Nadar University was a step towards strengthening grassroots excellence.

Building grassroots talent with HCL Foundation

Sportz Village Foundation’s collaboration with HCL Foundation is driven by a shared mission: To make sports and physical education accessible to children from underserved communities in Noida & Lucknow. Through Sports For Change program, 3K+ children have embraced the joy of sports. Among them, 800+ student-athletes are receiving high-performance training with holistic development opportunities at our Sports Development Centres (SDCs) across various disciplines, unlocking long-term potential.

Sagility partnered with Sportz Village Foundation for Yogdaan, a meaningful CSR initiative that saw 50 employees actively engage with 100 young girls across Bangalore & Chennai. Through our empowering self-defence program, Shakti, the initiative not only equipped the young girls with essential life skills but also significantly boosted their confidence and sense of safety.

Sportz Village Foundation at #UBSFCSR Summit

Nupur Gupta, Head of Product & Partnerships attended the summit and shared insights on 'Redefining CSR for a Better Future.’

Launch of the 13th Annual Health Survey

Sportz Village’s nationwide survey shows significant improvements in fitness levels of children in government schools. However, the survey also calls for the need to deploy appropriate policies and resources for making high-quality sports programs accessible to children in government schools, supported by corporates, philanthropists & the government.

Get Kids To Play Summit wrap-up

The first-of-its-kind summit raised the bar by uniting leaders from sports, education, and policy to tackle the challenges of getting kids to play. The summit emphasized how sports-based CSR programs can drive education, excellence & empowerment, foster gender equality, improve developmental outcomes, and create livelihood opportunities for school children.