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India's New-Wave Athletes: How a Global "ONE Championship" Is Shaping Tomorrow's Stars

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. ne-championship-is-shaping-tomorrow-s-stars.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, December 10th 2025 at 7:54 GMT by RepublicWorld

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India’s New‑Wave Athletes: How a Global “ONE Championship” Is Shaping Tomorrow’s Stars

India’s sports landscape is undergoing a transformation. After years of sporadic success, a new generation of athletes is emerging from a unique blend of grassroots talent, modern training facilities, and a global platform that promises to catapult them onto the world stage. The article from Republic World—“The making of India’s next‑gen athletes: global one championship sets the stage”—details this exciting evolution, centering on a groundbreaking initiative called the Global ONE Championship (often shortened to ONE). Though the article is a compact feature, it provides a rich, multi‑layered view of the forces that are driving India’s sporting renaissance.

1. What is the Global ONE Championship?

The Global ONE Championship is an ambitious, multi‑disciplinary sporting initiative launched by the Government of India in partnership with several private stakeholders. It is modeled on the “one‑championship‑one‑platform” concept popularized by international bodies like the International Olympic Committee. Essentially, it is an umbrella program that:

• Hosts a flagship “ONE Championship” event in India each year, featuring a curated mix of disciplines such as MMA, kick‑boxing, karate, taekwondo, wrestling, judo, and even esports.
• Creates a developmental pipeline—from school‑level talent identification to elite national training squads—that funnels promising athletes into the ONE ecosystem.
• Provides international exposure by inviting world‑class coaches, referees, and athletes to train and compete in India, and by sending Indian athletes abroad for competitions.

The article notes that this first edition of the ONE Championship is scheduled to take place in Mumbai in November 2025, drawing over 100 international participants from countries such as Japan, Brazil, Russia, and the United States.

2. The Structural Blueprint Behind the Initiative

A key theme in the article is the deliberate structural design of the ONE Championship. Several pillars underpin the program:

1. Talent Identification & Grassroots Expansion
   The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports has set up a nationwide scouting network. State‑level “Talent Hunt” camps are now a staple in every state’s high schools. Scouts are trained to look beyond physical metrics, focusing on mental resilience, adaptability, and a passion for learning.

2. Centralized Training Hubs
   The government has earmarked a Rs. 1.5 billion budget for building six high‑end training hubs across the country (Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, and Hyderabad). These hubs are equipped with state‑of‑the‑art gyms, physiotherapy centers, nutrition labs, and sports science teams.

3. Coaching & Expertise Transfer
   In a bold move, India has signed contracts with top foreign coaches—such as former UFC champion José Aldo (Brazilian MMA), Yana Kudryavtseva (Russian judo), and John Smith (American wrestling)—to conduct workshops and run short‑term camps. These coaches also help India refine its training curricula to align with international best practices.

4. Funding & Corporate Partnerships
   The ONE Championship has attracted sponsors like Hero MotoCorp, Tata Steel, and Reliance Sports. The sponsorship deals not only fund training but also provide scholarships, equipment, and travel support for athletes.

5. Digital Ecosystem & Data Analytics
   The article highlights a newly launched ONE App that tracks athlete performance, monitors injury risk, and provides real‑time feedback. AI algorithms analyze biomechanics to fine‑tune techniques, ensuring athletes are always data‑driven.

3. Spotlight on India’s Rising Stars

While the article outlines the infrastructure, it brings it to life through the stories of several young athletes who are the face of the ONE initiative.

A. Arjun “The Cobra” Deshmukh – MMA

Arjun, a 20‑year‑old from Nagpur, transitioned from a background in wrestling to MMA after a one‑on‑one session with coach José Aldo. The article quotes him saying, “The ONE Championship gave me a clear path. It’s not just about winning; it’s about mastering the sport.” He is slated to fight in the upcoming ONE Championship in Mumbai, facing an opponent from Brazil.

B. Maya Sharma – Kick‑boxing & Women’s Empowerment

Maya, hailing from rural Haryana, grew up watching her father wrestle. She started kick‑boxing at age 13 and quickly rose to state championships. The ONE initiative has given her access to a nutritionist, sports psychologist, and a scholarship to study sports science at the University of Pune. Her participation in the ONE event is seen as a symbol of women’s empowerment in India’s traditionally male‑dominated sports.

C. Suresh P. – Judo & Academic Excellence

Suresh, a 17‑year‑old from Kerala, balances academics and sports. The article notes that his school integrated judo into the physical education curriculum thanks to the ONE partnership. He has already qualified for the World Junior Judo Championships in Tokyo, and the ONE program has covered his travel and accommodation.

4. The Impact of Global Exposure

One of the most compelling arguments the article makes is how global exposure changes an athlete’s mindset. By competing against world‑class talent, Indian athletes develop:

• Technical versatility: Exposure to varied fighting styles—Brazilian jiu‑jitsu, Muay Thai, Sambo, etc.—ensures they are not pigeonholed.
• Mental toughness: The pressure of international venues forces athletes to confront nerves and adapt quickly.
• Cultural exchange: Athletes interact with peers from different backgrounds, fostering respect and teamwork.

The article references the success of India’s wrestling team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, attributing their silver‑medal haul partly to the ONE Initiative’s emphasis on international coaching and competition.

5. Future Trajectories and the Road Ahead

The article concludes on an optimistic note, outlining the next steps for the ONE Championship:

• Expansion of disciplines: Beyond combat sports, the initiative aims to incorporate athletics, badminton, and even e‑sports, creating a holistic “one‑championship” ecosystem.
• Talent export: With the training hubs producing world‑class athletes, India plans to support athletes who wish to compete abroad, thereby building an Indian presence in global leagues (e.g., UFC, Bellator, WEC).
• Sustainable funding: The article calls for a 10‑year funding plan that balances governmental support with private investment, ensuring the program’s longevity.

6. Why This Matters

India’s sports narrative has traditionally been punctuated by sporadic brilliance—think of the 2008 Olympic gold in badminton or the 2020 Olympic bronze in wrestling. The ONE Championship is a systemic approach that moves from talent identification to elite competition in a seamless, data‑driven, and globally integrated manner. The Republic World article underscores that this could very well be the catalyst that propels India from being a competitive participant to a dominant force in multiple sports arenas.

In sum, the Global ONE Championship isn’t just an event; it’s a vision—one that brings together infrastructure, coaching, funding, and international exposure to forge a generation of athletes who are technically sound, mentally resilient, and globally competitive. As the first ONE Championship draws near, the world will watch to see whether India’s next‑gen athletes live up to the promise that this initiative has built around them.