Throughout my life, I have always considered sports to be something that’s a part of me, both personally and professionally: I owe a lot to sports. I believe sports are a crucial element in the coming-of-age of a child, it has the power to either “make you or break you” depending on the environment we create for children to have access to sports.

I first witnessed the power of sports at the beginning of my previous role at Pro Sport Development, a social enterprise, based out of rural Odisha. The programs were aimed to holistically empowering the tribal and rural children by supporting their social, emotional, mental and physical development. The programs also played a key role in encouraging the equal inclusion of boys and girls, breaking gender stereotypes prevalent in rural India. Realizing the impact of sports on children deepened my interest and encouraged me to continue on this path towards using sports for development.

Children with disability training for the Special Olympics ⒸPablo Lasaosa/RDT

A major challenge I observed is that sports are still perceived to be solely performance-centered and that sports’ numerous intangible benefits for children and youth are often overlooked. Anantapur Sports Academy (ASA) aims to actively bring awareness about the field of sports for development including benefits that sports offer for individuals and communities in rural regions. In fact, sports offer another way of life.

At ASA, alongside promoting accessibility and holistic development of children and youth, the program encourages youth to utilize their skills to take up sports as a career as it offers financial stability. Particularly for girls, sports offer tools to challenge social barriers like early marriages and encourages them to pursue education. Underprivileged youth, particularly girls, can enhance their employment opportunities and move towards financial independence and ultimately be the leaders of their lives.

Girls practicing judo at the Anantapur Sports Village ⒸAnna Lofi/RDT

Considering this unique role of sports, the United Nations recognized sports’ growing contribution to development in “The Declaration of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. Subsequently, each year, the “International Day of Sport for Development and Peace” is celebrated globally on the 6th of April.

Boys practicing soccer at the Anantapur Sports Village ⒸRoberto Rodriguez/RDT

We ensure equal access to sports for the children and youth of Anantapur regardless of gender, community and class. To promote gender equitable opportunities, ASA also started grassroots-level leagues and competitions in sports, namely cricket, football and hockey for both genders as well as mixed-gender sports festivals. Despite the existing inequalities and differences between communities, I strongly believe sports can play a crucial role in creating a unique and inclusive platform for all. In fact, sports can prove to be an important tool in the drive towards equality, and it has been evident with the growing sports for development ecosystem in India.

I remember when I interacted with one of our girl athletes and her parents, they acknowledged that if not for sports, their daughter might have been pressured into getting married early in her life, as it was the case for most girls in their village. Her parents mentioned they feel proud whenever a fellow villager spoke highly of their daughter for featuring in the daily newspaper for her performance in hockey. Communities are starting to acknowledge girls’ equal participation in sports alongside boys. We see this as an essential change in society. It is a step forward towards breaking stereotypes and promoting gender equality.

At the Anantapur Sports Village ⒸASA

Text: Sai Krishna Pulluru, adapted by Vicente Ferrer Foundation USA

Sai Krishna Pulluru is a Sport Management graduate with relevant work experience in the fields of sports and youth development, grassroots sports and event management in international locations including UK, Russia and India. Being a sportsperson himself, he feels passionate about sports and youth development, particularly at the grassroots level. Currently, as the Director of the Anantapur Sports Academy, he is committed to promote the power of sports to aid in the development of rural children and youth and to create a sustainable sporting culture in Anantapur.