Suresh: structured sports curricula need

– Baishali Mukherjee (Kolkata)

Kanthi D. Suresh is the Gurugram-based founder of Power Sportz, India’s first live digital sports news channel launched in 2018, and its educational and certification division, Power Sportz Academy (PSA). PSA (estb.2023) is the India partner of the UK-accredited Sports Life Skills Framework (SLSF) offering 42 structured life skills development modules for class VI-XII students.

Newspeg. In May, PSA completed the national pilot of SLSF. Under this programme, schools can develop and assess student competencies such as leadership, teamwork, resilience, communication, empathy, decision-making and emotional regulation through physical education and sports. Thus far, Gurgaon’s Salwan Public School and Colonel Central Academy School have signed up with PSA.

History. An alumna of Osmania University and London School of Journalism, Suresh began her career in 1996 as an HR manager with Reliance Industries and Max Healthcare prior to switching to television journalism in 2008 as a news anchor for Doordarshan television. At Doordarshan, she transformed into a sports journalist after filling in for a reporter who declined to cover the Beijing Olympics 2008. Over the next decade, she covered several global sports events for Doordarshan until she put in her papers in 2018. The very same year, she successfully raised a sum of Rs.7 crore from a group of investors and launched Power Sportz as the country’s first live digital sports news channel. Currently, this OTT channel attracts 2 million views daily.

Taking to entrepreneurship with zest, in 2022 Suresh launched the Global Power Cricket League T20 Season 1 which drew the participation of T20 teams from seven countries. In April 2025, she launched her latest venture — Global Indian Pravasi Kabaddi League (GI-PKL) — a first-of-its-type kabaddi competition which drew participation of players from ten countries.

Direct talk. “After more than a decade of sports journalism, and as founder of the Power Sportz digital sports channel following interaction with athletes, schools, and coaches, I discerned an urgent need for a structured sports curriculum that could translate on-field experiences into valuable life skills. This awareness led to the launch of the Power Sportz Academy three years ago in partnership with the UK’s premier Sports Life Skills Framework. Under SLSF curricula, children develop resilience, adaptability, teamwork, leadership, and other important life skills through sports and games. My objective is to integrate the SLSF program into the curricula of all schools. The idea is to transform physical education and games and sports into a structured programme that develops students’ character, personality, and lifelong competencies,” says Suresh.

The SLSF programme enrolment fee is Rs.2,000 per student per year for private schools, and Rs.1,000 for government schools.

Future plans. Encouraged by the positive response to PSA’s pilot programme, Suresh is drawing up ambitious expansion plans. “Over the next two years, our target is to reach 1.4 million government school and 3.6 million private school students across India. Towards this end, we are prioritising partnerships with large school groups and state governments. I am confident these targets will be achieved. Because learning through exercise and sports is the most joyous way to learn,” says Suresh.

Wind beneath your wings!