Reliance Foundation initiative set to grow
NEW DELHI: Reliance Foundation chairperson Nita Ambani launched an all-India initiative in Mumbai on Saturday. Initiated under the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS), the programme plans to professionalise sports at the school and college level and promote it as a career option for the youth.

Stressing on the need to integrate sports within the educational system, Ambani said, “The competition was set up with the aim to propel India’s growth towards a multi-sports nation through robust school and college-level initiatives.”
Initially, over 2,200 teams from 2000 schools and colleges will compete in football in four categories — junior boys, senior boys, senior girls and college boys. The matches will be held in Mumbai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Kochi, Goa, Chennai, Pune and Delhi. There will be pre-qualifying rounds followed by the main draw with the city winners qualifying for the national round.
“Next year, we plan to introduce more sports as it is a five-year programme,” said Ambani.
In the future, institutions will also compete in basketball, athletics, badminton, and volleyball, and more cities will be added in the scheme.
A six-member advisory board has been set up and comprises Ambani, Sachin Tendulkar, Leander Paes, Saina Nehwal, Dipak Jain and Ranbir Kapoor.