The SPN National Inclusion Cup 2020 - A CSR Initiative of Sony Pictures Networks India

Business Wire India

Youth from Assam and Uttarakhand at the SPN National Inclusion Cup 2020

With an aim to empower marginalized sections of the society via sports, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), under the aegis of its CSR theme ‘Ek India Happywala’ sponsored the fourth consecutive edition of ‘SPN National Inclusion Cup 2020’ in association with the FIFA awarded charitable organisation ‘Slum Soccer’. The only national football tournament of its kind for underprivileged youth was kicked off at the Miramar Beach, Goa with matches being played from 28^th February to 3^rd March 2020.
 
This year, the annual championship tournament will be spread over five days and will see the participation of young athletes from across India. Youth from different states of India like Assam, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat, and Maharashtra will be participating in the unique tournament.
 
SPN firmly believes that the youth are the torchbearers for a better future of the country. Sport is a perfect medium that transcends race, religion, language and gender while simultaneously providing an equal platform and chance to further their dreams via fair representation of their skills at national and international levels. Out of 52 teams and 520 participants, the best performing 16 players, eight men and 8 women will be selected to represent Team India to compete against 63 nations at the 18th edition of ‘The Homeless World Cup 2020’ in Finland in June 2020.
 
The SPN National Inclusion Cup concept pioneered by Prof. Vijay Barse, promotes and encourages the development of sports at grassroots level by setting positive pathways for the youth and imparting life skills for community leadership. The inaugural ceremony in Goa will be graced and flagged off by Brahmanand Sankhwalkar – Arjuna Awardee and ex-India football captain, VM Prabhudesai, Executive Director – Sports Authority of Goa, Andy Hook, Ex-Director – Homeless World Cup and David Duke, CEO Street Soccer Scotland.
 
Comments:
 
Rajkumar Bidawatka – Head CSR, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN):
“Slum Soccer is a very dear cause to our CSR philosophy. For the fourth consecutive year, it gives us immense pride to witness the initiative’s impact on sports, in transcending boundaries and empowering youth. We will continue to support initiatives, which foster sustainable development and equality. At SPN, we constantly aspire to nurture young talent in the country through the medium of sports.”
 
Vijay Barse, Founder, Krida Vikas Sansthan:
“The SPN National Inclusion Cup, provides an opportunity for the underprivileged youth of India to represent their state and discover their hidden talent and become beacons of inspiration for others in their community. It inculcates and builds their confidence and self-esteem as a result of their involvement. I am amazed to see the response this initiative has garnered and the impact it has created. From our first National Inclusion Cup in 2002 to today in 2020, we have organised several tournaments. Sony Pictures Networks India has been a rock-solid support for our venture for the last 4 consecutive years 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 an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, Japan.
 
SPN has several 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 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, SONY TEN 3 HD; Sony मराठी, the Marathi general entertainment channel; SonyLIV - the digital entertainment VOD platform; SPN Productions, the networks’ film production arm and Studio NEXT the independent production venture for original content and IPs for TV and digital media. 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 and listed by Working Mother & AVTAR as one of the 100 Best Companies for Women in India.
 
Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited is in its 25th year of operations in India. It has a subsidiary, MSM-Worldwide Factual Media Private Limited and an affiliate, Bangla Entertainment Private Limited in India.
 
For more information, log onto www.sonypicturesnetworks.com