The SBI Foundation and the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) have collaborated to launch SBIF ACE: GOLD (Gearing for Olympic Dominance), an initiative designed to help 40+ accomplished and promising Indian track and field athletes prepare for upcoming international sporting events.
As part of the cooperation, the chosen athletes will have access to the Inspire Institute of Sport’s high-performance training facilities in Vijayanagar, Karnataka. Athletes will benefit from cutting-edge infrastructure and equipment, sports science and performance analytics, expert coaching, and complete training and athlete support services.
The program will equip athletes with a strong sports and performance ecosystem to help them prepare for international competition and achieve success. They will train with a staff of high-performance trainers, including Troy Douglas, who will handle track training, and Yoandri Betanzos, who will assist with the jumps program.
Swapan Dhar, Managing Director, SBI Foundation, said, “SBI Foundation is pleased to partner with the Inspire Institute of Sport, a significant step towards strengthening India’s high-performance sports ecosystem. As Indian athletes continue to make their mark on global sporting platforms, it is essential to provide them with access to quality training, advanced sports science, expert coaching, and sustained support. Through SBIF ACE: GOLD, we aim to enable and empower athletes to achieve their potential and contribute to India’s sporting ambitions.”
The alliance will also help athletes who have excelled in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, such as Praveen Chithravel (silver medallist), Gulveer Singh (silver and bronze medallist), Selva Prabhu (bronze medallist), and Seema Kaliramna (bronze medallist).
Including these four, more than 20 athletes funded by the program will represent India in the 2018 Asian Games in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan. Their participation demonstrates India’s increasing sports talent and the need of consistent, high-quality training for big international tournaments.
Manisha Malhotra, President – Inspire Institute of Sports, said, “Indian athletics is at an exciting stage, with our athletes increasingly demonstrating that they can compete and succeed on the biggest international platforms. This makes it an important time to invest in and strengthen the systems that support them. SBI is a name that is recognised and trusted by millions of Indians, and having an institution of this scale come forward to support our athletics programme is a significant boost for our athletes and for the sport. We are delighted to welcome SBI Foundation as a partner and look forward to working together to give more athletes the opportunity, support and confidence to pursue excellence at the highest level. With the Asian Games ahead and Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, this partnership comes at a very important moment for Indian athletics.”
Through SBIF ACE: GOLD, the SBI Foundation and IIS will continue to assist the selected athletes in their preparation for crucial international tournaments, while also laying the groundwork for India’s goals at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
