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Sportskill launches Champions Club Elite Pass to back India’s top-ranked young athletes
MUMBAI: In a powerful push for grassroots excellence, Sportskill has launched the Champions Club Elite Pass — a performance-based initiative designed to identify, support, and celebrate India’s top young athletes. Far from a membership card, the pass is a golden ticket to advanced training, national recognition, and elite exposure — all backed by one of India’s oldest sporting institutions, the Cricket Club of India (CCI).
The pass, awarded free of charge, is open to athletes who rank in the top eight nationally or top 16 in Asia across five racket sports — Tennis, Squash, Table Tennis, Badminton, and Pickleball. By eliminating financial barriers and prioritising merit, Sportskill is flipping the script on how early-stage sports talent is nurtured.
“This is not just an endorsement; it’s a call to action for institutions across the country to come together and build a world-class, athlete-first ecosystem”, said Sportskill co-founder Chetan Desai.
The initiative received ringing endorsement from Anil Nayar, a Harvard alumnus and 28-time national champion who’s been inducted into the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame. He called the programme “a win-win for champion players, club members, and budding juniors”, underscoring its potential to transform both player development and club prestige.
With CCI lending its name to the pass, Sportskill has found a heavyweight ally. Known for shaping legends and hosting historic tournaments, the Mumbai-based institution’s support adds legacy value to a forward-facing initiative.
Sportskill co-founder Abhinav Sinha added, “The support from CCI gives further momentum to our mission of building a transformative sporting culture for India’s youth. It’s time clubs moved from being venues to becoming talent incubators”.
Pass holders will gain access to high-performance training, a dedicated athlete profile to attract sponsors, and entry into an invitation-only celebration featuring top talent across disciplines. Even their coaches will be formally acknowledged — a rare move that spotlights mentorship in Indian sport.
Underneath the glamour sits a solid tech stack. Sportskill is evolving into a full-fledged sports tech as a service (STaaS) platform that leverages AI, video analytics, and data-driven coaching to deliver measurable improvement across athlete journeys. Its ambition: to support champions not when they make it, but while they’re making it.
Applications for the Champions Club Elite Pass are now open at www.Sportskill.app. For queries, athletes and parents can write to connect@Sportskill.app.
With this initiative, Sportskill isn’t just investing in India’s next sports stars — it’s building a structure to ensure their journey is seen, supported, and celebrated from the start.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
