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The National Inclusion Cup kick-started its first edition with Sony Pictures Networks in February 2017 which saw the participation of 40 teams (24 men and 16 women) from different states of India and a team from Nepal. The second-year witnessed participation of over 50 teams including two teams from Nepal, covering a base of ~500 youth. This year, 48 teams from different states of India joined the tournament to compete against each other and there were 4 international teams from Nepal and Bangladesh. The Women’s team from Mumbai and the Men’s team from Sikkim emerged as the winners of the finale, which was held at Cooperage Ground in Mumbai. Ace footballers like Ashley Westwood, Terry Phelan and Steven Dias were present on various days of the tournament to motivate the teams.
The teams participating this year were from the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Jharkhand, Vidharbha, Kerala, Assam, Telangana, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Sikkim, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan including teams from Nepal and Bangladesh. Similar to the last two tournament editions, the extraordinary players of the Indian slum soccer teams will represent the country at the 17th Homeless World Cup in Cardiff, Wales, in 2019.
Empowering India’s youth through sports is a key focus for SPN while promoting the spirit of Ek India Happywala. SPN is committed to co-creating India’s social development agenda through its focus on education, empowerment and environment.
Highlights from the tournament were aired on the ‘Kick Off’ show on Sony TEN 2 and will also be available on SonyLIV.
Comments:
Rajkumar Bidawatka – CSR Head, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN):
“We take immense pride in associating with Slum Soccer who share the passion and vision of empowering India’s youth. This partnership has been an incredible opportunity which not only recognizes talent but also contributes towards nurturing India’s true potential. At SPN, our constant endeavor is to create equal opportunities for every individual in the country.”
Vijay Barse, Founder, Krida Vikas Sansthan:
We are humbled by the response this initiative has garnered and the impact it has created. From our first National level tournament in 2003 to today in 2019, we have participated and organized several tournaments. Sony Pictures Networks India has been a rock-solid support for our venture and has helped us reach new heights, for which we are grateful and thankful.”
About Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN)
Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation which owns and operates the Sony Entertainment network of television channels.
SPN comprises 29 channels including Sony Entertainment Television (SET and SET HD), one of India's leading Hindi general entertainment television channels; MAX, India's premium Hindi movies and special events channel; MAX 2, another Hindi movie channel showcasing great India Cinema; MAX HD, a high definition Hindi movie channel airing premium quality films; WAH, the FTA channel for Hindi movies; SAB and SAB HD the family-oriented Hindi comedy entertainment channels; PAL, a genre leader in rural Hindi speaking markets (HSM) showcasing the best of Hindi general entertainment and Hindi movies from SPN’s content library; PIX and PIX HD, the English movie channels; AXN and AXN HD, the channels showcasing the best in Reality, Entertainment and Drama; Sony BBC Earth and Sony BBC Earth HD, the premium factual entertainment channels, Sony AATH, the Bangla entertainment channel; MIX a refreshing Hindi music channel; YAY!, the kids entertainment channel; Sports Network comprising 10 sports entertainment channels – SONY SIX, SONY SIX HD, SONY ESPN, SONY ESPN HD, SONY TEN 1, SONY TEN 1 HD, SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 2 HD, SONY TEN 3, and SONY TEN 3 HD; Sony मराठी, the Marathi general entertainment channel; SonyLIV - the digital entertainment VOD platform and SPN Productions, the networks’ film production arm. SPN reaches out to over 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries.
The network is recognized as an employer of choice within and outside the media industry. SPN is a recipient of several awards, including the ‘Aon Best Employers India’ Award in recognition of SPN’s unique workplace culture and exceptional people practices, consistently ranking amongst India’s Top 10 Companies with Best Health & Wellness Practices by SHRM & CGP Partners, listed by Working Mother & AVTAR as one of the 100 Best Companies for Women in India and adjudged one of India’s Great Workplaces by the Great Place To Work® Institute.
Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited is in its 24rd year of operations in India. Its subsidiaries include MSM-Worldwide Factual Media Private Limited and Bangla Entertainment Private Limited.
For more information, log onto www.sonypicturesnetworks.com
