April 4, 2026, in Pune: A bold vision was born in 2014 at a modest public squash court in Thube Park. The goal of Rolling Nicks, founded by Abhinav Sinha, was straightforward: to provide kids from diverse backgrounds with the opportunity to play squash, an elite sport, ensuring that talent was not dictated by money or geographic location.
Chance2Sports has achieved remarkable success in creating nationally competitive athletes from diverse communities. The foundation’s effectiveness lies in its grassroots approach, which has consistently identified and nurtured talent over the years. The focus has been on spotting raw potential early and developing it into high-performance athletes, a strategy that has begun to yield impressive results.
With players aged 9 to 17, Chance2Sports has built a remarkable pipeline of talent. Several players have broken into the Top 8 of the Under-11 national rankings, illustrating that the system is thriving. Initially, the program focused on discovering talent in areas often overlooked by traditional sports programs, reaching kids in places like Pune, Kalamb, Aurangabad, and Assam, many of whom practiced on uneven stone courts that flooded during monsoons. As promising young athletes emerged, it became evident that the vision needed to be expanded.
Chetan Desai, a sports veteran with over 50 years of experience in tennis, sports management, and media, played a pivotal role in this transformation. Frustrated with India’s sports infrastructure, which favoured those already established, he partnered with Abhinav to establish the Chance2Sports Foundation in 2022. Together, they launched SportsSkill, a free, tech-based platform that allows athletes from tier-2 towns to log their training, track progress, and receive personalised coaching feedback.
“The current training system benefits those who can afford it. We are flipping that model. Abhinav has developed a unique system where dedication, discipline, and consistency matter more than privilege. My role is to provide a structure that ensures this movement endures.”
— Chetan Desai, Chance2Sports Foundation and SportsSkill Co-Founder
Since its inception, Chance2Sports has trained over 300 athletes and has produced multiple national champions. By 2025, four foundation athletes represented India at the Asian Juniors. Anika Dubey, at just 15, became an Asian medalist in the Under-19 category, making her one of the few players from Maharashtra, and the only player from Pune, to achieve such recognition. Vasundhara Nangare, discovered at a camp in rural Kalamb, secured third place at the Under-15 Asian Junior Trials at the age of just 13. Vinay Shinde and Akanksha Gupta also earned spots in the Asian Junior Championships, further reflecting Chance2Sports’ track record of nurturing competitive athletes from diverse backgrounds.
In October 2025, Chance2Sports launched an ambitious ₹25 crore fundraiser aimed at running talent identification camps over five years, providing 150 selected athletes with world-class coaching, nutrition, and sports science support. The audacious goal is to develop India’s first World Junior Squash gold medalist from a community program.
“I’ve always believed in the potential of young athletes from overlooked areas. Instead of waiting for talent to approach us, we sought it out. Working from a public court in Pune, I’ve had the privilege of helping athletes achieve national titles and represent India on the world stage. It’s been a rewarding journey to witness their successes.”
— Abhinav Sinha, Co-Founder of Chance2Sports Foundation and SportsSkill
Chance2Sports is reshaping the landscape of Indian sports, beginning from a single public court in Thube Park and expanding into a national movement across various cities. The foundation aims to test nearly 3,000 children by 2030, selecting 300 for world-class developmental support, ensuring that the next generation of Indian squash champions can emerge from any background.
Ultimately, the true success lies in the inspiring stories of these young athletes who have overcome obstacles, discovered their potential, and are achieving remarkable milestones.
