In a powerful step toward advancing India’s sporting ecosystem, Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic and CSR arm of Infosys, has expanded its collaboration with GoSports Foundation through the launch of ‘Gear for Gold’ — a reimagined and inclusive version of their earlier program, ‘Girls for Gold.’
The initiative aims to create a comprehensive, athlete-first ecosystem that nurtures male, female, and para-athletes across multiple disciplines. With an expanded vision and academy-driven strategy, Gear for Gold strengthens India’s pipeline of high-performance athletes through cutting-edge training, infrastructure upgrades, and holistic support systems.
From ‘Girls for Gold’ to ‘Gear for Gold’ — Scaling Inclusion and Impact
Originally launched to empower women athletes, Girls for Gold made significant contributions in identifying and supporting female sporting talent. Building on its success, the new Gear for Gold program broadens that mission to include a diverse pool of athletes — regardless of gender or ability — across six key disciplines:
-
Badminton
-
Table Tennis
-
Weightlifting
-
Boxing
-
Athletics
-
Shooting
The program follows an academy-first approach, prioritizing capacity building at the grassroots and elite levels. Support includes infrastructure upgrades, access to sports science, advanced equipment, coaching expertise, and athlete wellness programs.
A Vision for Holistic Athlete Development
Unlike traditional sponsorship models, Gear for Gold focuses on sustainable ecosystem building rather than short-term athlete funding.
Through the initiative, athletes training under partner academies receive end-to-end support — from scholarships and coaching assistance to competition exposure, nutrition guidance, and injury management.
Moreover, Infosys Foundation and GoSports Foundation have integrated capability development modules for coaches, trainers, and sports administrators through workshops, conclaves, certifications, and international collaborations. This ensures that every stakeholder in the ecosystem benefits from structured skill enhancement and knowledge sharing.
Institutional Collaboration: The Backbone of Gear for Gold
Since their partnership began in 2022, Infosys Foundation and GoSports Foundation have successfully supported five leading academies across India:
-
Lakshya Shooting Club
-
Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation
-
Raman TT High Performance Center
-
Sathish Sivalingam Sports Foundation (Weightlifting)
-
Yadav Pro Badminton Academy
Now, under the expanded Gear for Gold program, three additional academies have joined the network:
-
Usha School of Athletics
-
Karnam Malleswari Foundation (Weightlifting)
-
Malik Badminton Academy
This brings the total to eight high-performance academies, covering both Olympic and non-Olympic sports. Each of these institutions benefits from sustained funding, improved training infrastructure, and performance monitoring systems that enable transparent progress tracking and measurable impact.
Tangible Results: Medals, Milestones, and Momentum
The collaboration between Infosys Foundation and GoSports Foundation has already delivered impressive outcomes. Through targeted interventions and scientific training, athletes supported by these academies have earned 15 international and 58 national medals across a wide range of sporting events.
Some of the program’s standout performers include:
-
Ojasvi Thakur: Gold medalist at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 (New Delhi) and Silver medalist at ISSF Junior World Cup 2025 (Suhl, Germany) in shooting.
-
Isha Taksale: Multiple Gold medalist across ISSF Junior World Cups (2024 and 2025) in Air Rifle events.
-
Ahona Ray: Gold and Bronze medalist in WTT Youth Contender international table tennis events in Berlin and Helsingborg (U13 category).
-
Hithaishree L Rajaiah: Silver medalist in 2025 All India Sub-Junior Ranking Badminton (Girls Singles).
-
Anjali PV: Bronze medalist in 4×100m relay and sixth in long jump at the Khelo India Youth Games.
These achievements highlight the success of the academy-based model in converting potential into podiums, and in nurturing India’s next generation of sporting champions.
Leadership Perspectives on Empowering Indian Sports
Infosys Foundation: Driving Purpose Through Performance
Sumit Virmani, Trustee, Infosys Foundation, emphasized the Foundation’s commitment to equitable opportunities in sports.
“Our collaboration with GoSports Foundation has been instrumental in supporting promising young athletes and advancing sporting talent in India. Through Gear for Gold, Infosys Foundation expands its commitment to holistic and inclusive development of athletes,” said Virmani.
“This program aligns with our broader vision to promote equitable opportunities and nurture sporting excellence through scholarships, advanced training, and world-class coaching infrastructure.”
Under Virmani’s leadership, Infosys Foundation continues to strengthen India’s CSR impact in sports, combining corporate resources with social purpose to foster community-driven transformation.
GoSports Foundation: Building a Future-Ready Athlete Ecosystem
Nandan Kamath, Founder & Managing Trustee, GoSports Foundation, described the program expansion as a pivotal moment for India’s high-performance sports development.
“The expansion marks a shift in our approach to talent development. Gear for Gold gives us the opportunity to identify athletes from across India and enable them to train and thrive in environments powered by sports sciences,” said Kamath.
“We are privileged to work alongside Infosys Foundation and jointly contribute to the development of Indian sport.”
Kamath added that the initiative’s focus on data-backed monitoring and transparent reporting ensures accountability and long-term sustainability — two critical factors in modern sports governance.
Why ‘Gear for Gold’ Matters for Indian Sports
India’s sporting landscape is undergoing a generational shift. From increased grassroots participation to rising global competitiveness, the need for structured, science-led support has never been greater.
Programs like Gear for Gold fill this gap by providing:
-
Access to sports science for recovery, nutrition, and injury prevention.
-
High-quality infrastructure upgrades across academies.
-
Financial stability for both athletes and coaches.
-
Exposure to international competition and performance benchmarking.
By expanding its scope to include para-athletes and male athletes, the program ensures that no talent remains untapped — strengthening India’s long-term sporting pipeline ahead of major events like the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games.
Transparency, Accountability, and Impact Measurement
A defining strength of the Gear for Gold initiative is its transparent governance model. Both Infosys Foundation and GoSports Foundation have instituted robust systems for:
-
Periodic performance reviews and progress tracking.
-
Data-driven reporting and athlete evaluation.
-
Third-party audits for due diligence and impact measurement.
This ensures every rupee spent contributes directly to athlete development, reinforcing trust among stakeholders, coaches, and communities.
The Road Ahead: Scaling India’s Sporting Future
As Gear for Gold enters its next phase, the collaboration is expected to support more academies and identify emerging talent from smaller towns and rural regions. Plans are underway to expand into new disciplines, introduce mental conditioning modules, and strengthen athlete transition pathways into global competitions.
The initiative’s long-term vision aligns with India’s growing ambition to become a global sports powerhouse — not just through medals but through sustainable ecosystem building.
Conclusion: Empowering India’s Champions of Tomorrow
With Gear for Gold, Infosys Foundation and GoSports Foundation have set a new benchmark for corporate–nonprofit collaboration in sports development. By uniting infrastructure, science, mentorship, and inclusivity, the program moves beyond athlete sponsorship to create a scalable and replicable model of excellence.
In every sense, Gear for Gold is not just about producing medal winners — it’s about building a culture of performance, equity, and pride that defines India’s sporting identity for generations to come.
