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Early Sports Education Will Shape Better Individuals, a Healthier Generation and Excellent Athletes for India – Concludes Get Kids to Play Summit Hosted by Sportz Village

  • Fifth Edition of the Get Kids to Play Summit at IIM Bangalore Reinforces the Role of Schools, Policy and CSR in Driving India’s Sports Future

Sportz Village, India’s leading school sports organization, successfully hosted the 5th edition of the ‘Get Kids to Play’ (GKTP) Summit this financial year at IIM Bangalore. The event brought together educators, policymakers, corporate leaders, young athletes and parents to discuss the importance of structured sports education in shaping well-rounded individuals, improving national health and developing India’s future champions.

The event opened with a keynote address by Prof. Sourav Mukherji, Dean, IIM Bangalore, who emphasized that India must transition from being a nation of sports spectators to active participants. He urged schools to prioritize structured yet flexible sports programs that allow children to balance academics and play, ensuring sports become an integral part of a child’s growth and development.

A critical highlight of the summit was the Voice of Young People Panel, where student-athletes shared their experiences in balancing academics with sports. Shagana S (MS Dhoni Global School) and Aadhya Arun Kumar (Presidency School, Banashankari) discussed challenges such as gender biases, access to sports facilities and balancing school with training, stressing the need for schools to promote inclusivity and equal opportunities for all children in sports.

The summit also featured insights from Nandan Kamath, Co-founder of Sports and Society Accelerator (SSA), the knowledge partner for the event. He emphasized that policy changes are essential in ensuring a structured approach to sports education, advocating for a national framework that integrates physical literacy into academic curriculums. He also highlighted SSA’s work in bridging gaps between grassroots sports initiatives and systemic policy reforms, ensuring that every child in India has access to quality sports education.

A panel discussion featuring Girish Dwarakinath (Founder, Equilii), Olympian Hakimuddin Habibulla, Shekhar Naik (Padma Shri Awardee and Former Captain, Indian Blind Cricket Team) and Anand Deshpande (Ex-CFO, Intel India) focused on the mental and emotional benefits of sports. Panelists emphasized that structured sports participation enhances discipline, teamwork and resilience among children, while also advocating for mental wellness programs for young athletes.
Another key discussion explored grassroots sports development and policy interventions, featuring Annie George (Decathlon India), Dilip Kumar (Rainmatter), Shaina Ganapathy
(Embassy Group), Srikrishna Sridhar Murthy (Sattva Consulting) and Deepthi Bopaiah (GoSports Foundation). The speakers highlighted the need to invest in emerging sports disciplines, noting that India currently participates in only 15 out of 33 Olympic events. The panel also stressed the importance of long-term structured programs over one-time initiatives to ensure sustainable sports development in the country.

The summit concluded with a strong call to action for educators, policymakers and communities to work together in creating a sustainable and inclusive sports culture in India. Saumil Majmudar, Co-founder & CEO, Sportz Village, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment, stating: “At Sportz Village, we firmly believe that sports should not be seen as an extracurricular activity but as an integral part of a child’s development. The ‘Get Kids to Play’ Summit is an important step toward ensuring that every child in India has access to structured sports programs that build not just athletes but well-rounded individuals. We urge educators, policymakers and communities to work together in creating a sustainable sports culture in India.”

Parminder Gill, Co-Founder & Head of Foundation, Sportz Village, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the collective responsibility in making sports accessible to all children: “Sports education is the foundation for not just great athletes, but also healthier and more confident individuals. The discussions at this summit reaffirm the role of schools, communities and corporate partnerships in shaping India’s sports future. We need sustained efforts to make play accessible to all children, ensuring that sports become a way of life rather than a privilege.”

With the successful conclusion of this 5th edition of the ‘Get Kids to Play’ Summit in this financial year, Sportz Village continues to lead the conversation on integrating sports into mainstream education. The event underscored the need for collaborative efforts to make sports an essential part of every child’s growth journey, ensuring that India’s next generation is healthier, stronger and ready to excel in the global sports arena.

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