Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s social impact arm, RCB Cares, has announced a significant expansion of its grassroots sports development programme, extending structured support to Yes For Hockey and Ashwini’s Sports Foundation (ASF), in partnership with GoSports Foundation.
The move strengthens RCB’s long-term Sports Forward Nation vision, aimed at building sustainable athlete pathways across Karnataka.
The expansion signals a deliberate shift from isolated interventions to system-building focusing on access, infrastructure, coaching quality and long-term athlete development. By adding hockey, athletics and shooting to its existing portfolio, RCB Cares is positioning itself as a multi-sport grassroots enabler aligned with India’s broader ambition of becoming a global sporting nation.
Building Systems, Not Just Success Stories
Rajesh Menon, CEO of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, framed the initiative as a structural investment rather than a short-term sponsorship.
“At RCB, we believe the future of Indian sport will be shaped not only by elite success, but by the strength of its grassroots foundations. Through RCB Cares, our ambition is to build structured, sustainable talent pathways that connect community sport with high-performance ecosystems,” he said.
The emphasis is on continuity ensuring that young athletes move through defined stages of training, competition and professional support. Instead of episodic exposure, the programme aims to integrate measurable systems, accountability and long-term monitoring.
Strengthening Athletics and Shooting Pathways
Through its collaboration with Ashwini’s Sports Foundation, RCB Cares will bolster high-potential athletes in athletics and shooting by addressing key structural gaps.
The support includes improved access to qualified coaching, structured training modules and specialist services such as sports psychology. Financial barriers often the biggest obstacle in individual sports will be eased through assistance for equipment, kits, pellets, shoes and competition travel.
Former Indian track and field athlete and Arjuna Awardee Ashwini Nachappa described the partnership as a turning point for the foundation.
“This partnership with RCB Cares has been transformative. It enables a holistic and professional approach to nurturing our athletics and shooting teams by integrating technology in coaching, emphasising sports psychology, enhancing equipment quality and expanding competition exposure,” she said.
In disciplines like shooting and athletics, where marginal gains determine podium outcomes, access to correct equipment and performance support services directly impacts athlete progression. By formalising these inputs, RCB Cares is attempting to bridge the gap between talent and sustained performance readiness.
Expanding Hockey Access Through Yes For Hockey
In parallel, RCB Cares has extended its grassroots push into hockey through Yes For Hockey (YFH), an organisation working with government schools in Karnataka.
The intervention targets structural inequities particularly limited access to artificial turf facilities, professional coaching and competitive exposure.
With RCB Cares’ backing, YFH athletes will receive structured turf training, transportation support, nutrition, playing kits and essential equipment. Teams will compete in the Karnataka State Hockey Association C Division League and various school tournaments, ensuring consistent match exposure.
Importantly, the initiative integrates technology-enabled performance tracking, allowing systematic monitoring and talent identification.
“For children in Karnataka government schools, access and the right opportunity is the biggest barrier. With RCB Cares’ support, we can now provide structured turf training, nutrition, league participation and consistent performance tracking,” said Sandeep Somesh, former international hockey athlete and coach with Yes For Hockey.
The structured league participation ensures that grassroots hockey moves beyond recreational exposure into measurable development cycles.
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The expansion builds on RCB Cares’ existing Bridges of Sports programme, which currently engages over 400 children from the Siddhi community.
Under this initiative, 24 junior athletes receive 300 structured training sessions aimed at preparing them for state and national competition. Two standout athletes from this cohort will gain access to advanced performance training under elite coaches and therapists associated with Olympic medallists, forming part of a UK-based performance pathway.
For the 2025–26 financial year, additional CSR funds will allow the inclusion of two more beneficiaries, reflecting incremental scaling rather than abrupt expansion.
All partnerships under RCB Cares operate within compliance and governance screening frameworks, with ongoing monitoring and reporting. GoSports Foundation continues as the strategic implementation partner, ensuring operational rigour.
Nandan Kamath, Managing Trustee of GoSports Foundation, emphasised the systemic approach.
“The RCB Cares programme aims to build strong linkages between community sport projects and high-performance pathways in Karnataka. It is a pioneering talent pathway programme, enabling organisations to create environments where deserving talent can progress with clarity and confidence,” he said.
The expansion reflects a maturing CSR model one that recognises grassroots sport as infrastructure-building rather than episodic charity. By entering hockey, athletics and shooting, RCB Cares is diversifying its impact across team and individual disciplines, while ensuring that athlete development is tied to structured competition and measurable progression.
As India intensifies its focus on long-term sporting excellence, initiatives that prioritise systemic depth over surface-level visibility will determine sustainable outcomes.
With this latest expansion, RCB Cares signals its intent not merely to support athletes, but to strengthen the ecosystem that produces them one structured pathway at a time.
