CHENNAI: On Children's Day (November 14), 500 young athletes will compete in the final at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here in Chennai as the UBS Athletics Kids Cup celebrates the next generation of sporting talent, after earning their places through qualifiers. 

The unique opportunity, the UBS Athletics Kids Cup, lets children aged 7-15 showcase their talent in three fundamental disciplines: the 60-metre sprint, long jump and ball throw. But the initiative is about much more than winning medals. Competing at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will give them a taste of a major athletics event. 

Running, jumping and throwing give children the opportunity to challenge themselves, experience success and setbacks, build confidence and discover the joy of physical activity. Every child who participates becomes part of something bigger – regardless of whether they reach the final.

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who joined the UBS Athletics Kids Cup as a co-owner this summer, shares the initiative's ambition to make athletics accessible to more children across India. "Every child deserves the opportunity to experience the joy of sport. You never know where a first sprint, jump or throw might lead. To all the young athletes competing in Chennai: enjoy the moment, believe in yourselves and keep moving forward,” Neeraj says.

His involvement underlines a central belief behind the initiative: India's future sporting success begins by giving more children the opportunity to experience sport in the first place. DT Next has tied up as the official media partner for the initiative in Chennai, promoting children's well-being, sporting excellence and community engagement.