MAM
Gameskraft powers Indian athletes across track, field, para and archery
MUMBAI: When skill meets support, the scoreboard changes. That’s exactly what Gameskraft Foundation is banking on as it doubles down on India’s medal ambitions reaffirming partnerships with four key sporting foundations, the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), Anju Bobby Sports Foundation (ABSF), Gosports Foundation, and the Dola & Rahul Banerjee Sports Foundation (DRBSF).
“Over the past few years, our partnerships have shown encouraging results,” said Rishi Wadhera, Vice President – Corporate Communications & CSR, Gameskraft. “It’s been heartening to see how consistent support can make a meaningful difference in the journeys of emerging athletes. Our focus remains on nurturing potential, building sustainable infrastructure, and supporting communities in their efforts to create future champions. These collaborations are a reflection of our continued commitment to contributing positively to India’s sporting ecosystem with a long-term vision and are grateful to our partners for their commitment.”
Together, these collaborations form a medal-making machine supporting everything from para-athletes to archers and track stars, from grassroots training to global podiums.
At IIS, the Foundation backs the Athletics Centre of Excellence, whose star pupil Neeraj Chopra took home Silver in Javelin at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At ABSF, a new academy is taking shape in Bengaluru to foster more future Shaili Singhs who leapt to Bronze in Long Jump at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships.
Lauding the efforts of the Gameskraft Foundation and their long-term commitment to a robust sports-driven culture, Anju Bobby George, Founder of ABSF and India’s first medallist in the World Athletic Championship said, “Our association with Gameskraft Foundation has been anchored in a shared belief in long-term impact. The backing we’ve received is not just empowering for our training infrastructure but has been vital in inspiring young girls from small towns to dream bigger.”
Gameskraft’s partnership with GoSports Foundation under the Para Champions Programme is a testament to inclusivity in sports. At the 2024 Paralympics, the results were golden literally with Sumit Antil and Dharambir grabbing Gold, Suhas Yethiraj securing Silver, and Rakesh Kumar bagging Bronze.
In the archery arena, Deepika Kumari supported via DRBSF scored Bronze at the 2025 Archery World Cup, aiming true with Gameskraft in her corner.
“For Indian sport to reach the success we aspire, it needs the coming together of more than just talent. Corporate India’s involvement in sport is pivotal, and some of our more prominent achievements have been a result of this support. At Gameskraft Foundation, we have people who are as obsessed with us about our Olympic ambitions. Together we have created a system for our athletes that gives them the best possible chance to succeed, and I am confident we will have more podiums coming from track and field in the near future.”, said Manisha Malhotra, President, Inspire Institute of Sport.
The results are already on the leaderboard, but Gameskraft isn’t done yet. With every laurel and long jump, the foundation is showing that gaming companies can play a serious role in India’s Olympic journey not just virtually, but with real impact on real tracks.
Now that’s how you level up.
Brands
Reserve Bank of India cancels Paytm Payments Bank licence
Central bank cites compliance failures; curbs tighten as wind-up looms
MUMBAI: India’s banking watchdog delivered its sharpest blow yet to Paytm Payments Bank, cancelling its licence and effectively ending its ability to operate as a bank under the law.
The Reserve Bank of India said the entity can no longer conduct banking business under the Banking Regulation Act, citing concerns that its affairs were not being run in the interest of depositors or the public and that it had failed to meet licence conditions.
The move escalates a crackdown that has been building for months. The bank had already been barred from onboarding new customers since March 11, 2022, and later faced restrictions on deposits, credit and wallet top-ups. In January 2024, the central bank ordered it to stop accepting fresh deposits, pointing to persistent non-compliance, including lapses in customer due diligence, use of funds and technology systems.
Operationally, the bank is now on a tight leash. It may process withdrawals of existing deposits and facilitate loan referrals through banking correspondents, but it cannot take fresh deposits.
The central bank said it would apply to the high court to wind up the bank.
Paytm sought to ringfence the fallout. In a regulatory filing, it said the licence cancellation applies to Paytm Payments Bank Limited, a separate entity, and should not be attributed to One 97 Communications. It added that there is no exposure or material business arrangement with the bank and that it operates independently, without Paytm’s board or management involvement.
“As informed earlier, Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited) and its services, which have been operating without interruption, will continue to operate uninterrupted. These include the Paytm app, Paytm UPI, Paytm Gold and all other services offered by its subsidiaries and associated companies,” the company said.
The distinction may reassure users of the app ecosystem, but the regulator’s verdict is unequivocal. After years of warnings, caps and curbs, the payments bank experiment at Paytm is being shut down—decisively, and with little room left to manoeuvre.
