Celebrating future champions with Neeraj Chopra as ambassador
February 19, 2025 : The Athletics Kids Cup enabled by UBS successfully concluded its Grand Mumbai Final at Jio Institute’s Athletic Center, Ulwe, bringing together 500 of the city’s top young athletes for a thrilling showcase of talent and sportsmanship. In its debut season, the initiative engaged 1,00,000 children across 1,000 schools in three cities, promoting physical activity and inspiring the next generation of champions.
The competition followed a triathlon-style format with events in the 60m sprint, long jump, and ball throw. With electronic timing, live commentary, and big screens, young participants experienced a professional sporting environment, mirroring the excitement of elite athletic events.
The event was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Adille J. Sumariwalla – World Athletics – Vice President, Former-AFI (President); Florin Müller – Head of Swiss Business Hub India;, Philippe M. Reich – Chairman President Switzerland, Swiss-Indian Chamber of Commerce; Harald Egger – Head Group Real Estate and Supply Chain & Chairman UBS India; Anand Menezes – Olympian; Sudhir Rane – CHRO NEROLAC; Kashyap Mody – Reliance Treasury; Prasad Kulkarni – Deloitte, Partner; Father Ernest Fernandes – Byculla Church; Santosh Varghese – Head Coach Striders; Amalan Borgohain – Athlete 100m/200m; Moumita Mondal – Athlete 100mH/Long Jump who celebrated the young athletes’ achievements
Neeraj Chopra, Olympic Champion and Athletics Kids Cup Ambassador, highlighted the transformative impact of such competitions, stating: “The experiences young athletes gain from a competition like this are invaluable. Learning to handle excitement, set goals, and compete will shape them for life.”
The Athletics Kids Cup was designed to address the increasing concern of childhood obesity by encouraging children to adopt an active lifestyle through running, jumping, and throwing—the fundamental movements of sports. Beyond physical fitness, the initiative also fostered discipline, resilience, teamwork, and leadership skills, building confidence among young participants.
UBS played a pivotal role in making the Athletics Kids Cup a reality, reinforcing its commitment to empowering communities and fostering youth development. The initiative aligns with UBS’s mission to support the holistic growth of young individuals, ensuring they have the tools to achieve their full potential.
Daniel Schenker, CEO of Dspowerparts shared his enthusiasm for the initiative: “We are incredibly proud to launch an initiative that not only promotes physical fitness but also instills essential life skills in young athletes. The Athletics Kids Cup is a testament to the power of sports in shaping a healthier, more confident generation.”
Matthias Schacke, Head India Service Company at UBS, echoed this sentiment: “We believe in investing in India’s future, and the Athletics Kids Cup embodies our commitment to youth development. The passion and determination of these young athletes and the fantastic atmosphere on the field reinforces our belief that sports can be transformative, empowering children to achieve their full potential.”
With the successful conclusion of its first season, the Athletics Kids Cup is set to launch its second season in April 2025.
