The impact of the UBS Athletics Kids Cup goes far beyond the competition arena. Over the past years, the initiative has introduced hundreds of thousands of children across India to athletics. But the true success of the program is not measured only by participation numbers or medals. It is measured by the lasting impact sport has on young people’s lives.
This year, our local partners began collaborating with summer camps by integrating athletics training sessions and UBS Athletics Kids Cup competitions into their programs. What started as a grassroots sports initiative is now creating even more opportunities for children to discover athletics, stay active throughout the year and continue developing their talents.
At one of these camps, we met two remarkable young athletes whose stories perfectly capture what the UBS Athletics Kids Cup is all about.
Jia Chavan: Dreams in Motion
Many members of our community will recognize Jia Chavan as the young star of our DREAMS video campaign. Seeing her train on the athletics track was a special moment for our team.
Jia’s enthusiasm, dedication and love for sport embody the spirit of the UBS Athletics Kids Cup. Watching her continue her athletic journey reminded us why we launched this initiative in the first place: to give children the opportunity to dream big and discover what they are capable of achieving.
Shraddha Bhamre: The Journey Continues
We also met Shraddha Bhamre, who has been part of the UBS Athletics Kids Cup family from the very beginning.
Shraddha won gold at the Grand Mumbai City Final and established herself as one of the competition’s standout athletes. Today, at the age of 16, she is no longer eligible to participate in the UBS Athletics Kids Cup. Yet her connection to athletics remains stronger than ever.
She continues to train, compete and pursue her sporting ambitions.
For us, Shraddha represents one of the most important outcomes of the initiative: inspiring young people to stay engaged in sport long after their final competition day.
Creating Lasting Impact
Stories like Jia’s and Shraddha’s demonstrate what meaningful impact looks like.
The UBS Athletics Kids Cup is not simply a one-day competition. It is a platform that helps children build confidence, develop healthy habits, discover their talents and create a lifelong connection with sport.
Every child who continues their sporting journey, every young athlete who gains confidence through competition and every new opportunity created through initiatives such as the summer camps represents another step towards our vision.
We hope to inspire children through sport.
But more impoartant, we are reminded that young athletes such as Jia and Shraddha inspire us just as much.