New Delhi: Reliance Foundation has been honoured with the Best Corporate Promoting Sports – High Performance award at the FICCI India Sports Awards 2025, held during the FICCI TURF 2025 Global Sports Summit at Federation House on Friday. The recognition marks another milestone in the foundation’s continued commitment to strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem and empowering athletes across the country.
Nita Ambani calls next decade a ‘golden era’ for Indian sport
Accepting the award, Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, emphasised the organisation’s long-term vision for sports development in India. She highlighted that a collaborative approach between corporates, government bodies, sports federations, and athlete support systems will be crucial for India’s emergence as a leading global sporting nation.
“The coming decade will be a golden era for Indian sport. Together with the government, corporates, bodies like FICCI, our young athletes, and their families, we hope to make India a truly global multi-sporting powerhouse. This is not only about medals, but this is nation-building through sport,” she said.
Ambani further reiterated Reliance Foundation’s commitment to nurturing future champions by investing in grassroots sports, elite athlete development, and high-performance support programmes across diverse disciplines.
Summit focuses on India’s pathway to global excellence
The FICCI TURF 2025 summit, in its 15th edition, convened leaders from government, sports federations, industry, and diplomacy to discuss India’s sporting roadmap for the next decade. With the theme “Indian Sports – Forging the Path to Global Excellence,” the summit stressed the need for innovation, international collaboration, and long-term strategy.
The event opened with a welcome address by PKSV Sagar, Chairman of the FICCI Sports Committee and President of GMR Sports. He highlighted the rising aspirations of Indian athletes and called for deeper partnerships across corporates, sports science institutions, and global sporting nations.
Sagar noted that the momentum generated by recent sporting successes, expanding leagues, and widening participation at the grassroots level now requires a unified national effort to accelerate progress.
Knowledge reports released to support sports development
One of the major highlights of the inaugural session was the release of the FICCI Knowledge Report “Sporting India Rising,” which outlines opportunities for India to enhance its high-performance ecosystem. The report includes strategic recommendations on coaching, infrastructure creation, athlete welfare, and the adoption of technology and analytics.
In addition, the India-Australia Strategy for Sports Collaboration was launched, reinforcing the growing partnership between the two nations in areas such as high-performance training, sports science, long-term talent pathways, and coaching education. With Australia as the Partner Country at this year’s summit, the collaboration aims to raise the benchmark for athlete development in India.
PT Usha honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award
The ceremony also celebrated a landmark moment as legendary athlete and Indian Olympic Association Chairperson PT Usha received the FICCI Lifetime Achievement Award. The accolade recognised her extraordinary contribution to Indian sport, both as a record-breaking athlete and as a mentor to generations of young athletes.
Usha, often referred to as the ‘Queen of Indian Track and Field,’ has been instrumental in promoting athletics at the grassroots level through her academy and continues to be an influential figure in shaping India’s Olympic ambitions.
The audience applauded her for inspiring countless sportspersons and for her role in strengthening India’s presence on international platforms.
Reliance Foundation’s growing role in Indian sport
Over the years, Reliance Foundation has built a comprehensive ecosystem that spans grassroots outreach, structured talent identification, and elite training. Through initiatives such as the Reliance Foundation Young Champs programme, partnerships in football, athletics, and other sports, and support for international competitions, the foundation has played a pivotal role in shaping India’s new sporting generation.
Its high-performance programmes provide athletes access to advanced coaching, sports science, physiotherapy, mental conditioning, and global exposure — elements essential for competing at the world stage.
The FICCI award acknowledges these sustained efforts and the organisation’s contribution to India’s long-term sporting vision.
A collective push for the future
With India’s sporting aspirations rising rapidly, the summit underlined the significance of shared responsibility among stakeholders. As the nation prepares for a decade filled with global tournaments, potential Olympic breakthroughs, and expanding sports participation, the role of institutions like Reliance Foundation becomes increasingly vital.
The event concluded with renewed optimism and a collective commitment to building a stronger, more competitive sporting culture in India — one driven not only by medals but by inspiration, opportunity, and national pride.