In a country dominated by cricket and increasingly charmed by football and kabaddi, a quiet revolution has been unfolding over the past few years led not by federations or billion-dollar sponsors, but by passionate athletes and change makers determined to build a new sporting ecosystem from scratch Ultimate Frisbee.
Off-Season Ultimate (OSU), co-founded in January 2020 by Rishabh Kishore, Tahir Siddiqui, and Maksood Chaudhary, is at the forefront of this movement. Through tireless work, a deep-rooted community ethos, and a sharp vision for growth, OSU is transforming Ultimate Frisbee from a niche pastime into a legitimate, inclusive, and competitive sporting option across Indian cities.
This is the story of OSU and its co-founders’ mission to build not just a league, but a legacy.
Genesis of a Movement
Rishabh Kishore’s journey into Ultimate Frisbee is rooted in purpose. An entrepreneur and strategist with a background in economics and leadership, he pivoted from the renewable energy sector to build something of his own anchored in the belief that sport can cultivate community and character. “Ultimate was largely untapped,” he says. “We saw an opportunity to create a professional environment where none existed.”
For Tahir Siddiqui, who discovered the sport back in 2008, the game’s core values self-refereeing, mixed-gender participation, and the “Spirit of the Game” offered more than athletic appeal. They represented tools for social change. A legal professional with a deep interest in grassroots development, Tahir saw OSU as a way to structure Ultimate Frisbee while keeping its ethos intact.
Maksood Chaudhary, the third pillar of the organisation, began playing in 2011 and has represented India on international stages. His coaching experience and operational acumen have been crucial in driving OSU’s logistics, sponsorships, and tournament execution.
Together, the trio envisioned a framework that could elevate Ultimate Frisbee in India without losing its soul.
A Grassroots Landscape
When OSU launched, Ultimate Frisbee in India was still very much a grassroots sport. “There were active scenes in seven or eight cities Bangalore, Chennai, Surat, Delhi, and a few IIT and BITS campuses,” Rishabh explains. “But everything was self-funded. Clubs had top players, but no financial support.”
What OSU aimed to do was introduce a professional layer atop this ecosystem a platform that could amplify talent, offer visibility, and eventually make it financially viable for athletes to play. “We want people to get paid to play this sport,” he adds.
The Tournament Machine
OSU’s marquee effort the Mumbai Ultimate League (MUL) has become a model for semi-professional Ultimate in India. Organising these tournaments in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru is no small feat. From securing grounds that suit broadcast requirements to coordinating jerseys, logistics, volunteers, and media every detail counts.
“We always start with the broadcaster SportsCast has been a reliable partner,” says Tahir. “Then comes ground scouting, setting up the field, and managing everything from refreshments to water stations. It’s an operation with a lot of moving parts.”
But even amidst this operational rigor, OSU never forgets the community.
“We always work around the club calendar to ensure top talent can play,” adds Maksood. “And we subsidise participation if someone can’t afford the full fee, that’s fine. We want them there. It’s about inclusion, not exclusion.”
MUL Season 5: A New Chapter
This year’s fifth season of the MUL stood out for multiple reasons. For one, it saw the rise of new teams like Desi Hawks and Reborn Fire, showcasing the growing depth of the sport. “It was refreshing to see new faces,” says Maksood. “There’s real momentum now in places like Surat and Pune.”
The league plans to expand to eight teams next year. “We’ve built a competitive talent pool across seasons. Now it’s time to grow,” Rishabh notes. “We want to run a four-week league that’s tight, thrilling, and talent-packed.”
Talent, Development, and the OSU Academy
Talent spotting and nurturing has always been part of OSU’s DNA. While early efforts focused on helping teams participate in external tournaments, the vision has now grown more direct and hands-on.
That vision is the OSU Academy.
“We’ve launched beginner sessions in Mumbai and tied up with NGOs to introduce Ultimate to their kids,” says Tahir. “The goal is to eventually support these kids in building their own teams and becoming part of our tournaments.”
They’ve also backed the Surat Ultimate League and state teams like Maharashtra in the past, subsidising participation costs and creating a supportive bridge for rising players.
Broadcast and Visibility: The Ultimate Multiplier
For a sport like Ultimate, visibility can be transformative. OSU recognised early on that media coverage isn’t a luxury it’s a necessity.
“Sponsorship and advertising rely on media. That’s why we’ve pushed so hard to create a presence on YouTube, to broadcast our matches professionally,” says Rishabh. “Every time someone sees what we’re doing, it adds credibility and attracts both players and partners.”
Spirit of the Game: More Than Just a Rulebook
The ethos of Ultimate Frisbee its emphasis on “Spirit of the Game” and self-officiation is perhaps its most distinguishing feature. For OSU, these values are not just philosophical; they’re pedagogical tools.
“Spirit of the Game is about communication and conflict resolution,” says Maksood. “It teaches young players to be emotionally aware, respectful, and articulate even in high-stress moments. That’s life training, not just sports training.”
Their partnership with NGOs has also revealed the power of the sport in underserved communities. “Especially for girls from conservative backgrounds, Ultimate creates a safe, empowering space,” adds Tahir. “We’ve seen it change lives.”
Breaking Barriers Through Mixed-Gender Play
Ultimate is one of the rare sports in which mixed-gender participation is the norm. In a society often divided along gender lines, this format is radical.
“In India, boys and girls often don’t interact freely in sports. Ultimate helps break that barrier,” says Rishabh. “It shows boys that girls can compete equally and shows girls that they belong.”
Initiatives like women-only tournaments have helped drive participation further, especially among first-time players from rural or low-income backgrounds.
For all its momentum, Ultimate still faces steep hurdles in India. “The biggest challenge is awareness,” Rishabh admits. “Most people don’t even know this sport exists.”
Add to that a lack of infrastructure, and you get a situation where even interested players struggle to find games. “There’s no pickup culture, no natural spaces to play. That creates a skill gap and deters casual participation.”
Their solution? Make Ultimate recreational, visible, and accessible. “That’s how you build a sport,” says Maksood. “Not by going elite, but by going grassroots.”
Professionalism Without Losing the Soul
Balancing the community-first ethos of Ultimate with the ambition of professionalisation is tricky. OSU has found a sweet spot by designing open-yet-competitive formats.
“Our auction-based league allows anyone to enter. If you’re picked, you’re in,” explains Tahir. “And we try to help players financially. We don’t want fees to be a barrier.”
Even the OSU Academy is designed to feed both community and league. “Not everyone will make the MUL straight away,” says Rishabh, “but they’ll play local tournaments, improve, and maybe get there. It’s all about building the base.”
OSU’s future roadmap includes two major pillars: expanding into the South with a Bengaluru-Chennai league and scaling the OSU Academy’s footprint.
“We don’t live in the South, so it’s a challenge. But those cities are Ultimate hubs,” says Maksood. “We want to connect the top talent from across regions.”
The long-term dream? A national Ultimate Frisbee league in India.
“We want a structure where the best players are paid, where coaches emerge from within the system, and where the sport isn’t just surviving on love but thriving with investment,” says Rishabh.
The Five-Year Vision
The trio’s five-year outlook is both pragmatic and inspiring. Beyond reinstating their women’s tournament and international invitational events, they want to build infrastructure that sustains Indian Ultimate.
“We’re looking for a partner who believes in this mission,” says Tahir. “Right now, we’re community-driven. But to scale, we need structure and resources.”
That includes creating coaching pathways, expanding grassroots training, and enabling India’s national teams to compete without financial strain.
“It’s not just about leagues,” Rishabh concludes. “It’s about making Ultimate Frisbee a viable sporting choice for players, coaches, and communities across the country.”
In just five years, OSU has become more than a league it’s a blueprint. One where values coexist with vision, and passion fuels progress. As Ultimate Frisbee finds its feet in India, the trio of Rishabh, Tahir, and Maksood have already proven one thing: you don’t need a billion-dollar broadcast deal to start a revolution. You just need belief, and the will to throw the first disc.
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