Sportz Village successfully hosted the fifth edition of the ‘Get Kids to Play’ (GKTP) Summit at IIM Bangalore on February 14, 2025, emphasizing the critical role of structured sports education in shaping India’s next generation. The summit brought together educators, policymakers, corporate leaders, and young athletes to discuss the benefits of early sports education in developing healthier individuals, fostering well-rounded personalities, and creating future sports champions in India.

Prof. Sourav Mukherji, Dean of IIM Bangalore, delivered the keynote address, urging India to shift from being a nation of sports spectators to active participants. He highlighted the importance of schools offering flexible yet structured sports programs that integrate play with academics, ensuring sports become a vital part of children’s development. This, he believes, will help foster a more active and healthier generation.

A key panel discussion, the Voice of Young People, featured student-athletes Shagana S and Aadhya Arun Kumar, who shared their challenges in balancing academics with sports. They spoke about gender biases, limited access to sports facilities, and the pressure of maintaining high academic standards while training. Their experiences underscored the need for inclusivity and equal opportunities in sports across all schools.

Nandan Kamath, Co-founder of Sports and Society Accelerator (SSA), the summit’s knowledge partner, emphasized the importance of policy reforms to ensure a structured approach to sports education in India. He advocated for a national framework integrating physical literacy into school curriculums, ensuring that every child has access to quality sports education. Kamath also shared SSA’s efforts to bridge the gap between grassroots sports initiatives and systemic policy reforms, aiming for nationwide improvement.

The mental and emotional benefits of sports were also highlighted in a panel discussion featuring Olympian Hakimuddin Habibulla and Padma Shri awardee Shekhar Naik. The panel discussed how sports build discipline, teamwork, and resilience while emphasizing the need for mental wellness programs for young athletes to thrive in both academic and athletic pursuits.They stressed that sports should be an integral part of a child’s overall growth and mental well-being.

Another important session focused on grassroots sports development and policy interventions. Panelists, including Annie George of Decathlon India and Deepthi Bopaiah from GoSports Foundation, discussed how India currently participates in only 15 out of 33 Olympic events. They advocated for investing in emerging sports and long-term structured programs to ensure sustainable growth in India’s sports ecosystem. The focus was on creating long-term solutions rather than short-term initiatives for the country’s future champions.

The summit concluded with a powerful call for action from Sportz Village leaders. Saumil Majmudar, Co-founder and CEO, emphasized that sports should be viewed as an essential aspect of education, not just an extracurricular activity. He urged educators, policymakers, and communities to work together in creating a sustainable sports culture in India. Parminder Gill, Co-founder & Head of Foundation, echoed the sentiment, stressing that sports education is foundational for not only creating great athletes but also healthier, more confident individuals.

With the successful conclusion of the fifth edition of the ‘Get Kids to Play’ Summit, Sportz Village continues to lead the charge in integrating sports into mainstream education. The summit underscored the need for collaborative efforts to ensure that every child in India has access to structured sports programs that foster holistic development. This will pave the way for a healthier, stronger generation of future athletes and citizens ready to excel in the global arena.

Key Highlights:

• Sportz Village’s Get Kids to Play Summit highlighted the importance of structured sports education for children’s development.
• The summit featured young athletes who shared challenges in balancing sports with academics, emphasizing inclusivity.
• Experts called for policy changes and frameworks to integrate physical literacy into school curriculums.
• The event concluded with a call for collective responsibility from schools, policymakers, and communities to foster a sustainable sports culture in India.