Pune: Chance2Sports, a grassroots squash development initiative, has expanded into a national-level program aimed at identifying and training young athletes from underserved communities, according to a statement.
The initiative originated in 2014 at a public squash court in Thube Park, Pune, under Rolling Nicks, founded by Abhinav Sinha. The program focuses on providing access to squash training for children irrespective of financial or geographic limitations.
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In 2022, the initiative was formalized into the Chance2Sports Foundation following a partnership between Abhinav Sinha and sports veteran Chetan Desai. The foundation aims to build a structured pathway for talent development in squash.
The foundation said it has trained over 300 athletes so far, with several players achieving national-level rankings. Multiple athletes have secured positions among the Top 8 in the Under-11 category in national rankings.
The program operates across multiple regions, including Pune, Kalamb, Aurangabad, and Assam, targeting areas with limited access to sports infrastructure.
As part of its expansion, the foundation launched SportsSkill, a technology-based platform that enables athletes to track training progress and receive coaching feedback remotely.
Chetan Desai said the initiative aims to create a system where performance and consistency determine success.
“The current training ecosystem benefits those with access and resources. Our focus is to build a structure that supports talent based on merit,” he said.
According to the foundation, several athletes have represented India at international events. In 2025, four players from the program participated in the Asian Junior Championships.
Among them, Anika Dubey secured a medal in the Under-19 category, while Vasundhara Nangare finished third in the Under-15 Asian Junior Trials. Vinay Shinde and Akanksha Gupta also qualified for the Asian Junior Championships.
The foundation said it launched a ₹25 crore fundraising initiative in October 2025 to scale its operations over five years. The funds will be used to conduct talent identification camps and support selected athletes with coaching, nutrition, and sports science resources.
Abhinav Sinha said the initiative focuses on identifying talent at an early stage and providing long-term support.
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“We have worked to identify players from different regions and provide them with opportunities to compete at higher levels,” he said.
The foundation aims to test around 3,000 children by 2030 and select 300 athletes for advanced training programs.
