Children lack daily playtime
Schools have no sports/PE teachers
Children have poor BMI and health risks
Children drop out of sports
Adolescents are physically inactive
Children lack life and sports skills
Behind these numbers are millions of children and youth across India who grow up without access to daily play, trained sports teachers, or safe spaces to be active. Many face poor health, physical inactivity, early dropout from sports, and limited opportunities to develop essential life skills.
These challenges are most severe in marginalized and underserved communities, where gaps in education, lack of basic resources, and low exposure restrict holistic growth. Even youth who have represented their state or country in sports often remain unemployed due to the absence of clear career pathways. According to UNICEF, 3 in 4 young people aged 15-24 across 92 countries, including India, are not on track to gain essential employment skills, highlighting a deep and urgent skills gap.
As a result, many children and youth struggle to pursue higher education or secure meaningful livelihoods, limiting their ability to lead healthy, independent, and dignified lives.
Sportathon is building Indias largest grassroots sports revolution. We work with children and youth from underserved schools and communities to strengthen sports education, regular play, life skills, and overall learning outcomes.
Our work is driven by interconnected pillars that reimagine the role of sports in India as a powerful pathway for holistic development, stronger communities, and long-term livelihood opportunities. By embedding sports into schools and community spaces, we are strengthening the foundations of sport where it matters most.
Sportathon is creating an inclusive ecosystem that uses sport, physical activity, and play to improve health and well-being, build essential life skills, address gender inequality, and nurture confident young leaders with the vision of reaching every child and youth in every corner of India.
All young people become confident problem-solvers and empathetic leaders by accessing exposure and opportunities to play and succeed through sport.
We are building a movement of 1000 leaders creating equitable access and opportunities in sport for 1 million children by 2030, regardless of their background.
Sportathon Foundation runs high-impact programs that bring structured sports, life skills, leadership, and career pathways to children and youth across India. Each initiative is designed to strengthen a different layer of India's sports ecosystem, from school classrooms to community playgrounds to youth leadership.
Project CHAK DE is our flagship In-School sports education program. It is a multi-year structured intervention designed to ensure that every child in schools gets access to quality sports and physical education and daily play time.
Super 30 is a sports excellence program for talented children from marginalized backgrounds who often drop out of sports due to a lack of money, guidance, or exposure.
Super Slum is Sportathon's flagship community transformation initiative, designed specifically for children and youth living in India's most underserved communities and slums. These communities often have no safe play spaces, limited access to quality education, and very few youth role models. Super Slum turns these high-density, high-risk environments into vibrant hubs of play, learning, and youth leadership.
The Sports For Impact Fellowship is a year-long leadership program that trains passionate youth (18-28 years) to use sports as a tool for education and community transformation.
Our annual reports reflect our commitment to transparency, accountability, and impact. Download and explore our yearly journey — from grassroots initiatives to measurable outcomes across India.
Rajeev Kumar Singh's journey from Chirimiri's fields to a community youth coach shows the power of sport. Overcoming poverty and personal setbacks, he transformed from a young footballer into a certified coach, mentoring children, creating livelihoods, and inspiring underserved communities to dream, lead, and thrive through sport.
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Ashish, a Class 11 student, clinched the Gold Medal at the State Basketball Championship through relentless hard work and discipline. With consistent guidance from Coach Shuneet, his dedication turned into victory — proving that the right mentorship, perseverance, and belief can help young athletes rise, compete, and achieve excellence on the big stage.
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Om Prakash, from Delhi's Jahangirpuri community, transformed his passion for sports into purpose. Supporting his family from a young age, he became a full-time coach through Sportathon. Today, as a Youth Captain, he mentors 450 children — proving that opportunity and perseverance can create leaders who change lives through sport.
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We promote daily movement, structured play, and regular fitness tracking, helping children build active habits and reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases.
We integrate sports with classroom routines and life-skills learning, we make education more engaging and holistic. Physical activity improves focus, attendance, and participation, while youth coaches help create stronger learning environments.
We create safe, inclusive spaces where we ensure mixed gender activities and especially girls can play freely, build confidence, and challenge social norms. Through girls' sports circles and gender-inclusive sessions, every child gets equal opportunities to participate and lead.
We train youth as PE Teachers, coaches and leaders, giving them professional skills, mentorship, and placement support. Our programs open dignified career pathways in sports, education, and community development.
We bring structured sports and coaching to underserved schools and slum communities, ensuring equal access regardless of background. By supporting talent and creating opportunities, we help children and youth overcome social and economic barriers.
Sportathon has become one of the nine organizations who got selected for InnovatED Incubation across India.
Use our form to connect with the team.
