Nita Ambani Looks Forward to Promote Sports in Education

It’s a world-wide accepted truth that participating in school sports activities provides a means for students to more meaningfully indulge with their education, increase academic performance and attendance and also provide life skills taught through sports-based youth development.

Skills necessary for a student to learn are self-defense, confidence, activeness and discipline. It benefits child physically and mentally. Sports in schools bridges the gap by clicking into deep network of athletics, sports persons, organizations and the government for the welfare of children’s and future of nation at large. Mrs. Nita Ambani, Founder & Chairperson, Reliance Foundation and Member of International Olympic Committee on 1^st October, 2018 witnessed an event at Shillong for inclusive growth of sports in school curriculums to presage India as a multi-sports nation. While witnessing the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports (RFYS) Meghalaya branch of School Girls football final at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong, Ms. Ambani stated that Reliance Foundation Youth Sports is all about opportunity and endeavor. We strive to give the youth of India a platform through which they can showcase their skills and ability. She further added that over 4 million children from 5000 educational institutes have been impacted by RFYS so far in last two years, and this season will further widen that impact across the nation reaching 6 million youths. Hon. Chief Minister of Meghalaya Sh. Conrad Sangma and NorthEast United FC owner John Abraham accompanied her on the event in Shillong to promote sports and other educational activities for the growth of students and nation. Reliance Educational foundation was the dream of Late Dhirubhai Ambani who leads RFYS to encourage students to work with an aspiration and commitment to endeavor the future. Basically RFYS was established to encourage the sporting culture at schools and colleges to build future sports persons. It organizes various sports tournaments at pan-India level. Reliance Foundation Youth Sports also conducts school and college competitions in football and athletics across 60 cities in India. In 2017, 4 teams from Shillong had reached the RFYS National Championship with Umthli Secondary School being crowned as the winners. Speaking about the North East's contribution to sports in India, Ms. Ambani stated that, North-East occupies a very special place in the heart of every Indian sports fan. It is the home to some of the most recognized international athletes that India has ever produced. Mrs. Ambani seeks to build a sports eco-system in the country that will not only encourage kids and youngsters to take up sports but will also provide every child a platform to nurture his or her talent. In collaboration with Meghalaya Football Association, RFYS has expanded to three more districts in Meghalaya – Ribhoy, Jowai and Khleiriat in 2018 with participation from over 100 teams across the state.  RFYS has also expanded far into the states of Mizoram, Manipur and Assam.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/education-today/news/story/reliance-foundation-s-nita-ambani-wants-inclusive-growth-of-sports-in-education-1354510-2018-10-03