ICICI Foundation Strengthens Sports Infrastructure & Access

ICICI Foundation, the CSR arm of ICICI Bank, has marked National Sports Day 2026 by highlighting the development of sports infrastructure and capabilities as a focus area. It has started investing in the development of sports facilities to promote inclusion and livelihood generation for marginalised community groups. It has forged partnerships with relevant sports and education institutions to enhance their capacities.

The Foundation is working at both, the grassroots level and the national level to nurture an inclusive and holistic sports ecosystem through its interventions with around 80 institutes. At the grassroots level, the focus is on enabling access to sports, creating opportunities for wider participation, nurturing early interest, and building a strong foundation for sports engagement.

“We also expanded our societal development interventions to support sports infrastructure and facilities in some interior parts of the country with the objective of fostering healthier and more engaged communities”, said Pradeep Kumar Sinha Chairman, ICICI Bank

In fiscal 2026, ICICI Foundation has invested in playing courts for various sports, and provided necessary equipment and infrastructure to schools and community institutions. Its key initiatives in these areas include:

• Supporting 53 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas across the nation for promoting sports among rural children through development of playing courts, arenas, indoor halls, and equipment. Developed a basket ball court at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh

• Facilitating 12 Sainik Schools across India in preparing students for the Indian armed forces, by providing equipment for several sports, and development of playing courts, athletic tracks and halls.

• Promoting sports at five Eklavya Model Residential Schools primarily in the north-east region, by developing multi-purpose sports infrastructures for tribal children.

The Foundation’s national-level programmes are also aimed at strengthening advanced training infrastructure at specialised institutions, such as the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres. The initiatives aim to help sportspersons access better facilities and hence enhance their performance.

In fiscal 2026, ICICI Foundation supported seven SAI centres, and two para-sports training centres for specially abled athletes. The interventions include:

• Supporting para-athletes through physiology, physiotherapy, psychology, mobility support, sports science equipment and sports wheelchairs.

• Construction of new arenas and halls, and providing equipment for various sports, strength, and conditioning. It has also set up biomechanics lab and gymnasium at the SAI centres.