CBM India wins Best Aid for Sports Initiative at Indian Social Impact Awards 2025
Sony Thomas, executive director, CBM India, receives the Best Aid for Sports Initiative of the Year award at the Indian Social Impact Awards 2025 ceremony in New Delhi.
New Delhi, December 19: CBM India Trust has been awarded the Best Aid for Sports Initiative of the Year at the Indian Social Impact Awards 2025 for its Para Athletes Support Program, which focuses on expanding access, resources and opportunities for athletes with disabilities across India.
The Indian Social Impact Awards, organised by Brand Honchos as part of the Indian CSR Awards initiative, recognise organisations and leaders driving measurable social impact across sectors including education, healthcare, women empowerment, sports and skill development.
The award recognises CBM India’s sustained work in promoting inclusive sports development, particularly through its Para Athletes Support Program, which addresses financial and structural barriers faced by para sportspersons. The programme provides targeted assistance for specialised equipment, coaching, nutrition, travel and participation in competitive events, enabling athletes from economically weaker and underrepresented regions to train and compete at higher levels.
Para athletes supported through the initiative have gone on to win medals at state, national and international competitions, underscoring the growing potential of para sports in India and contributing to changing perceptions around disability and athletic excellence.
Commenting on the recognition, Sony Thomas, executive director, CBM India, said the award reinforces the importance of sustained support for para sports. He said the initiative aims to ensure that athletes with disabilities see sports as a viable career pathway and that society moves beyond stereotypes associated with disability.
The award also highlights the role of corporate partnerships in advancing inclusive development. CBM India’s Para Athletes Support Program is implemented through a CSR-supported model, demonstrating how corporate investment can contribute to long-term impact in disability inclusion, both within sports and across other sectors.
CBM India Trust is a not-for-profit development organisation working to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities and other marginalised communities. The organisation works in partnership with community-based organisations, institutions and government agencies to remove social, cultural and environmental barriers to inclusion in health, education and livelihoods. During 2024–25, CBM India reached more than 20.6 lakh people across 17 states and union territories.
