Recently, Infosys Foundation, the company’s charitable and corporate social responsibility division, announced the growth of its strategic partnership with GoSports Foundation. Together, they hope to change the high-performance program “Girls for Gold” into the more inclusive and expansive “Gear for Gold” program. Through partnerships with top sports academies, this enlarged scope offers support to a greater range of promising talent, including male, female, and para-athletes, establishing a comprehensive paradigm for talent development.

The six sports that will be the focus of the “Gear for Gold” programme are shooting, boxing, weightlifting, table tennis, badminton, and athletics. Using an academy-first strategy, assistance will take the form of modernising facilities, putting sports science principles into effect, and giving people access to cutting-edge tools and technology. Additionally, athletes training at these academies will receive all-encompassing support, such as scholarships, advanced coaching, help to compete, and advice on injury management and nutrition. Conclaves, workshops, certificates, and international exposure will enhance the capacity growth of athletes, coaches, and staff. Transparency and quantifiable impact will also be guaranteed by strong monitoring, reporting, and due diligence mechanisms.

Five academies in India, including Lakshya Shooting Club, Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation, Raman TT High Performance Centre, Sathish Sivalingam Sports Foundation (weightlifting), and Yadav Pro Badminton Academy, have received support from Infosys Foundation and GoSports Foundation since their partnership in 2022. Three additional academies will be supported by the enlarged Gear for Gold initiative starting this year: the Malik Badminton Academy, the Karnam Malleswari Foundation (weightlifting), and the Usha School of Athletics. These academies have benefited from significant interventions, such as improved infrastructure, the adoption of contemporary sports science techniques, and ongoing assistance for coaches and important technical and non-technical personnel to improve training programmes and operations. Young athletes have won 58 national and 15 international medals in a variety of sports thanks to this targeted strategy.

“Our partnership with GoSports Foundation has been crucial in fostering the development of athletic talent in India and supporting young athletes with promise,” stated Sumit Virmani, Trustee, Infosys Foundation. The Infosys Foundation extends its dedication to the inclusive and holistic development of athletes through “Gear for Gold”. This initiative supports our overarching goal of fostering sporting excellence and promoting fair opportunities through advanced training, scholarships, and top-notch coaching facilities.

The GoSports Foundation’s Founder and Managing Trustee, Nandan Kamath, stated, “The program’s extension represents a significant change in how we approach talent development initiatives. “Gear for Gold” now offers us the chance to go deeper into talent pools, find athletes from all over India, and provide them with supportive conditions driven by sports sciences so they may train, develop, and flourish. It is an honour for us to collaborate with the Infosys Foundation and help advance Indian sports.