News Headline
Real Madrid Foundation partners with Conscient Sports
Mumbai: In a significant step set to transform the future of football in India, the Real Madrid Foundation – branch of the renowned Real Madrid Club managing its football programs worldwide-has established a pioneering partnership with Conscient Sports. This collaboration is dedicated to fostering young football at the grassroots level, combining Real Madrid Foundation and Real Madrid’s legendary football philosophy with Conscient Sports’ extensive expertise and dedication to Indian football. Conscient Sports is the exclusive partner of Real Madrid Foundation in India to develop the football program for all the country.
The training methodology of Real Madrid Foundation and Real Madrid blends the traditional football ethos with modern coaching philosophies. It offers unique experiences tailored for young footballers and families, complementing mainstream education. This approach aims to enhance developmental goals, including leadership skills. The platform not only advances sporting abilities but also fosters high-performance individuals, inspired by Real Madrid. The programme’s curated experiences create an enriching environment for student growth in positive life values.
Conscient Sports stands as the beacon of football development in India. Since 2010, Conscient Sports has built a robust training infrastructure, now spanning four major cities—Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru—with over 30 state-of-the-art training centres and more than 4,000 active young footballers. Creating an environment where talent thrives by blending global best practices with a deep understanding of local football dynamics, Conscient Sports’ football wing, Conscient Football, has grown into India’s largest football academy over the past 14 years, coaching more than 50,000 players across over 40 locations. This journey includes conducting over 50 nationwide camps and selecting more than 25 teams for international football tournaments. Beyond football skills, Conscient Sports fosters a youth movement, emphasizing health & wellness, focus & discipline, teamwork & leadership, and character-building through the sport. Partnering with Real Madrid Foundation, Conscient Sports continues its commitment and legacy towards the sport.
“Real Madrid’s legacy of excellence finds a perfect partner in Conscient Sports, whose unparalleled expertise and dedication to grassroots development in India are second to none,” said Real Madrid institutional relations director and official spokesperson Emilio Butragueno. He further added, “Conscient Sports’ extensive knowledge of the Indian football landscape and their relentless pursuit of excellence make them the ideal ally for our mission. There is no better partner in India to help us realize our vision of nurturing young football talent.”
Conscient Sports’ director Kriti Jain Gupta expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership: “Over the last 14 years, football has evolved dramatically, with new emphasis on physicality, speed, tactical flexibility, and high-intensity pressing. Our young athletes need training that aligns with these advancements and prepares them for the future. Conscient Sports has continually adapted coaching philosophies to meet the evolving needs of players and their families. And this is in sync with the philosophy of the club. Our goal is to stay ahead of the curve, ensuring our athletes are not only prepared for global challenges but also inspired to excel. We are dedicated to driving the growth of football in India, aspiring to host championships and tournaments that will shine a spotlight on our homegrown talent.”
The exclusive partnership with Real Madrid Foundation is more than just a new badge; it is about leveraging thought leadership to impact sustainability & community development, to promote inclusive practices and the vision emphasises the role of sports in fostering education, health, sustainable development and social integration, leveraging influence to create positive, lasting impacts on society that go beyond sports, embracing the true essence of football, and celebrating the diverse styles, techniques, and approaches that make the sport so aspirational.
In the past 14 years, Conscient Sports has won the trust of thousands of players who have believed, thrived, and have turned out to be wonderful human beings. Countless tournaments, effective and structured training sessions, humble coaches and supervisors, high-quality infrastructure, online training sessions during COVID, physiotherapists, CPR & first aid trained coaches at every session—Conscient Sports has always stayed ahead of the curve.
This historic collaboration between Real Madrid Foundation and Conscient Sports promises to usher in an era of exciting new beginnings, shaping the future of football in India. Together, they will cultivate a new generation of football stars, the club’s legacy with Conscient Sports’ unmatched dedication to the sport. This partnership heralds a vibrant and competitive football landscape, positioning India on the global football map.
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.
