Britannia Marie Gold, one of India’s leading biscuit brands, in alliance with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), has launched ‘HerSpark,’ a first-of-its-kind national sports scholarship program for women athletes.
The campaign’s goal is to identify and develop promising female athletes in boxing, swimming, judo, athletics, and parasports to help them launch their careers.
The project provides promising young female athletes across India with a fully financed three-year sports scholarship that includes professional training, coaching, accommodation, nutrition, and educational possibilities. The program also provides excellent amenities and coaching from former Continental and Olympic athletes such as Mamuka Kizilashvili (Judo) and Yoandris Betanzos Francis (athletics).
Female athletes throughout India can apply for the HerSpark scholarship by visiting the official HerSpark website to fill out the application form. Female athletes living in India who are at least 14 years old are eligible for the scholarship. To join, minors (those under the age of 18) must get permission from their parents or guardians.
There will be several steps involved in the selection process. After the first application screening, over 1,000 qualified athletes will be called to Round 1 selection trials at IIS facilities across India. Those who qualify will advance to two-day regional selection sessions held across eight sites in India. Based on their performance, the shortlisted athletes will then attend an exclusive three-week elite training camp at IIS Vijayanagar for further evaluation.
Siddharth Gupta, General Manager – Marketing, Britannia Industries, commented, “Britannia Marie Gold believes that every woman possesses an innate spark—the potential to achieve more. Committed to empowering women, we have supported their journeys toward financial independence through initiatives like HerStartup and Her.Store. With ‘HerSpark,’ we extend this commitment to the world of sports, providing young female athletes with the opportunity, training, and mentorship they need to reach their highest potential.
“We are happy to partner with Inspire Institute of Sport to support and nurture aspiring women athletes, breaking barriers and ensuring access to world-class coaching. Through this initiative, we strive to inspire the next generation of women athletes to compete at the highest levels and bring glory to the nation.”
The JSW Group established the Inspire Institute of Sport, a privately funded Olympic Sport Programme headquartered in Vijayanagar with a High Performance Centre and satellite centres in Manipur, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Odisha.
Manisha Malhotra, President – Inspire Institute of Sport, said, “We at the IIS are very excited to join hands with Britannia Marie Gold – a brand that is doing so much to empower women. Through this partnership, we are launching a nationwide scouting programme to identify young female athletes and equip them with the skills and guidance needed to succeed on the biggest stage. Shortlisted athletes would receive a three-year, fully funded scholarship program at IIS’ world-class facilities— with access to some of the world’s best coaches. We cannot wait to see the success that comes out of this effort.”
Britannia Marie Gold has consistently been a brand that helps women achieve financial independence and entrepreneurship. With initiatives like Marie Gold HerStartup contest and Her.Store, it has enabled millions of women take steps toward their dreams. This program is simply another manifestation of that commitment—championing resilience, ambition, and the capacity of women to achieve more by empowering them with the resources and chances to thrive at the highest level.
By sharing resources, training, and support, Britannia Marie Gold and IIS hope to strengthen young female athletes to compete and succeed on a global scale by honing their ‘Spark’.