In a significant boost to India’s international school sports movement, the International Schools Sports Organisation (ISSO) has announced a collaboration with Adani International School to strengthen the country’s sports education framework for globally aligned schools.
As part of the initiative, Mrs. Namrata Adani, Promoter of Adani International School, has joined the Advisory Board of ISSO, where she will play a key role in shaping its long-term vision and goals.
Founded in 2017, ISSO is India’s only dedicated sports body for international curriculum schools affiliated with globally recognised boards such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge, Edexcel and the US-based National School Boards Association (NSBA). With a network of over 430 schools, 22 sporting disciplines, and 300-plus tournaments conducted annually, ISSO has impacted more than 22,000 students, establishing itself as the gold standard for school-level sports excellence in India.
Through this partnership, Adani International School will support ISSO in expanding sporting infrastructure, enhancing athlete training, and promoting student participation in global sporting events. The school’s emphasis on integrating academic achievement with physical education aligns with ISSO’s mission of nurturing well-rounded student-athletes.
Welcoming the collaboration, Ms. Aakanksha Thapak, Director, ISSO, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Mrs. Namrata Adani and the Adani Group as part of our shared vision for youth empowerment through sports. Over the years, ISSO has built a structured pathway for international school students to grow through competitive sport — from grassroots to international levels. With Mrs. Adani’s leadership and vision, this collaboration will further strengthen the ecosystem we’ve created and inspire thousands of young athletes across international schools.”
Mrs. Namrata Adani said:
“We are at an inflection point in India’s educational and sporting landscape. Through this collaboration, we aim to create inclusive, future-ready institutions where students are empowered to pursue excellence both in the classroom and on the sports field. It is an honour to support ISSO in building a structured, globally benchmarked sports culture for international schools in India.”
ISSO’s partnerships with bodies like the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) and the International School Sport Federation (ISF) have already enabled Indian students to compete at elite levels, including the SGFI Nationals, Khelo India Games, the Subroto Cup and ISF World Championships. Its specialised wing, the International Board School Sports Organisation (IBSO), has been instrumental in creating these pathways.
The Adani International School–ISSO collaboration is expected to bring greater professionalism, transparency and global exposure to international school sports in India. It also aims to support student-athletes in university admissions through robust profiling systems.
With this initiative, ISSO is set to enter its next phase of growth, empowering a generation of students to excel in both academics and sports while opening new avenues for global recognition.
