RCB Cares Expands Grassroots Sports Initiative to Boost Hockey and Athletics

RCB Cares Enhances Sports Development Efforts

In a significant move towards fostering a Sports Forward Nation, RCB Cares has unveiled an expansion of its grassroots sports development initiative. This program will now support Yes For Hockey and Ashwini's Sports Foundation, in collaboration with GoSports Foundation, as per an official announcement.

This expansion signifies RCB's ongoing dedication to enhancing India's sports framework from the grassroots level, aligning with the government's vision for sport-driven growth. By branching into hockey, athletics, and shooting, RCB Cares emphasizes that substantial change starts with access, structured support, and ongoing investment. The initiative aims to establish clear pathways for athletes, improve coaching quality, and ensure regular competition exposure, merging ambition with tangible execution.

RCB's Commitment to Grassroots Sports

Rajesh Menon, CEO of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, stated, "At RCB, we believe that the future of Indian sports will be shaped not just by elite achievements but also by the strength of grassroots foundations. Through RCB Cares, we aim to create structured, sustainable talent pathways that link community sports with high-performance systems. Our support for hockey, athletics, and shooting reflects our long-term commitment to fostering multi-sport excellence in Karnataka, in line with India's vision of becoming a global sporting powerhouse. This initiative focuses on investing in systems, partnerships, and accountability to create a lasting impact."

Enhancing Athletics and Shooting Opportunities

In partnership with Ashwini's Sports Foundation (ASF), RCB Cares will enhance training and competition pathways for promising athletes in athletics and shooting. This collaboration aims to provide access to quality coaching and specialized support, including sessions with sports psychologists, while alleviating financial burdens through assistance with kits, equipment, pellets, shoes, and competition fees.

Ashwini Nachappa, a former Indian track and field athlete and Arjuna awardee, remarked, "This partnership with RCB Cares marks a transformative milestone for our foundation, athletes, and coaches. It allows us to adopt a holistic and professional approach to developing our athletics and shooting teams by integrating advanced coaching technology, emphasizing sports psychology, improving equipment quality, and increasing competition exposure. Together, we are fortifying every aspect of the athlete development pathway."

Supporting Grassroots Hockey Development

RCB Cares will also provide support to Yes For Hockey (YFH), a grassroots organization focused on working with government schools in Karnataka to establish a structured hockey pathway for children from underprivileged communities. This initiative will enhance coaching support, facilitate access to artificial turf facilities and transportation for regular training, and supply nutrition, playing kits, and essential equipment.

Under the YFH program, teams will participate in the Karnataka State Hockey Association C Division League and school tournaments, with technology-enabled tracking to assist in monitoring and talent identification. Sandeep Somesh, a former international hockey athlete and coach from Yes For Hockey, stated, "For children in Karnataka government schools, access and opportunity are the biggest challenges. With RCB Cares' support and the Yes for Hockey initiative, we can now offer structured turf training, nutrition, league participation, and consistent performance tracking, significantly enhancing grassroots hockey."

Ongoing Commitment to the Siddhi Community

This expansion also builds on RCB Cares' ongoing commitment to the Bridges of Sports program, which engages over 400 children from the Siddhi community through a two-tier league. This initiative provides 24 junior athletes with 300 structured training sessions to prepare for state and national competitions. Out of these, two exceptional athletes will receive advanced performance training from elite coaches and therapists associated with Olympic medalists, as part of the Bridges of Sports Foundation's UK performance pathway.

Strategic Implementation and Governance

With additional CSR funds allocated for the financial year 2025-26, the inclusion of two new beneficiaries is planned. All partnerships will undergo compliance and governance screening, with continuous monitoring and reporting. GoSports Foundation will act as the strategic implementation partner, ensuring professional execution and measurable outcomes.

Nandan Kamath, Managing Trustee of GoSports Foundation, commented, "The RCB Cares program aims to create strong connections between community sports projects and high-performance pathways in Karnataka. It is a groundbreaking talent pathway initiative, and we look forward to empowering these organizations across Karnataka to build their communities and create environments where deserving talent can thrive and progress with clarity and confidence."

Conclusion

Through this strategic expansion, RCB Cares reaffirms its commitment to developing a resilient, inclusive, and performance-oriented sports ecosystem in India.