Foundation Deepens Commitment to Sport Sector Through Partnerships with Olympians and Grassroots Organizations
In a remarkable show of commitment to India's sporting landscape, the Gameskraft Foundation has renewed its ties with four prominent sports bodies: the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), Anju Bobby Sports Foundation (ABSF), GoSports Foundation, and Dola & Rahul Banerjee Sports Foundation (DRBSF). This strategic alliance aims to strengthen both Olympic-level and grassroots sports pipelines in the country.
The partnerships have proven to be a significant catalyst for athlete development, with over 140 athletes collectively winning more than 190 medals across disciplines in the last financial year. This success story is a testament to the foundations' effective talent nurturing and performance enhancement efforts.
At the IIS, the partnership helps maintain world-class training infrastructure, fostering an environment of excellence and global competitiveness. This has been particularly beneficial for elite athletes like Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, who won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The ABSF collaboration empowers young female athletes, particularly from small towns, inspiring them to pursue higher sports goals. Anju Bobby George, Founder of ABSF and India's first individual medallist at the World Athletic Championship, praised the efforts of Gameskraft Foundation, stating that their backing is empowering for training infrastructure and inspiring for young girls from small towns.
GoSports Foundation, with Gameskraft support, promotes para-athletes who have earned multiple Paralympic medals, including two golds, reflecting increased inclusivity and success in para-sports. Through DRBSF, Gameskraft Foundation uplifts young and prominent talent in archery, ensuring access to equipment, expert coaching, and competitive exposure.
The Gameskraft Foundation's collaborations have also resulted in boosting athlete training quality, expanding support to underrepresented groups (women and para-athletes), and enhancing India’s medal prospects at international events. The foundation received the 'CSR Excellence in Sports' award in 2023, which underscores its recognized contribution to sports development through dedicated facilities such as the Gameskraft Foundation Track and Field Athletic Centre.
Praveen Bose, previously a journalist for 17 years, is now part of the Gameskraft team, bringing his extensive experience in covering various verticals such as IT, ITeS, technology, ISRO, Defence, and Aerospace. His journalism career included stints at The Times of India and Business Standard.
Manisha Malhotra, President of Inspire Institute of Sport, emphasizes the importance of corporate involvement in Indian sports for achieving success. The Gameskraft Foundation's collaborations have created a system that enhances the chances of success for Indian athletes on the global stage. The partnerships aim to strengthen India's sporting ecosystem, focusing on talent discovery at the grassroots to elite athlete development.
Rishi Wadhera, Vice-President - Corporate Communications & CSR at Gameskraft, stated that the collaborations reflect their commitment to contributing positively to India's sporting ecosystem with a long-term vision. Through these strategic alliances, Gameskraft Foundation continues to play a pivotal role in shaping India's sporting future.
- The Gameskraft Foundation, in addition to their commitments in sports, has shown interest in finance and business, as Praveen Bose, previously a journalist specializing in IT, ISRO, Defence, and Aerospace, recently joined their team.
- Recognizing the potential of personal finance management for athletes, the Gameskraft Foundation has expanded their initiatives to include wealth-management strategies, ensuring athletes have the resources necessary for long-term success, both on and off the field.
- Beyond sports, the Gameskraft Foundation's investments stretch to the world of finance, with Rishi Wadhera, Vice-President of Corporate Communications & CSR, expressing their dedication to a long-term vision of positively contributing to various sectors, including sports, history, and social welfare.
- Leveraging their experiences in sports and finance, the Gameskraft Foundation seeks to diversify their investments, venturing into sports-betting and sports-analysis, with the aim of maximizing their impact and providing comprehensive resources to the sports community.
