ISSO expands to 630+ schools as Namrata Adani backs next growth phase
Synopsis
India's largest school sports body, ISSO, has crossed 630 affiliated schools and is targeting 28,000 student-athletes in 2026-27 — its fastest-ever expansion. With Namrata Adani driving the vision, the organisation is no longer just running competitions; it is building a pipeline from grassroots sport to professional and career opportunities, backed by global federation partnerships.
Key Takeaways
ISSO has expanded its school network to over 630 institutions for the 2026-27 season , up from 510 in 2025-26 and 440 in 2024-25.
Student-athlete participation is projected to exceed 28,000 , rising from 21,100 in 2024-25.
Namrata Adani , Advisory Board Member and Founding Director of Adani International School, Ahmedabad , is central to driving ISSO's strategic vision.
ISSO Academy has partnered with ISF Academy , FIBA , ITTF , BWF , and Kukkiwon for internationally recognised coaching certifications.
New initiative SCORE connects student-athletes with universities and industry to explore sports-sector careers.
National championships in 8 sports — including Football, Swimming, and Badminton — are scheduled for September .
The International Schools Sports Organisation (ISSO) is poised for its most ambitious season to date, with its school network surpassing 630 institutions and student-athlete participation projected to exceed 28,000 in the 2026-27 season. The expansion marks a significant leap in organised school sport across India, with the body intensifying efforts to build structured, long-term pathways for young athletes.
Namrata Adani's Role in Shaping the Vision
Namrata Adani, Advisory Board Member of ISSO and Founding Director and Promoter of Adani International School, Ahmedabad, is a central figure in steering the organisation's strategic direction. Her involvement has been instrumental in aligning ISSO's expansion with a broader vision of creating a future-ready sports ecosystem for school-going athletes across the country.
Adani said: 'Every child deserves the opportunity to discover the transformative power of sport. At ISSO, we are building an ecosystem where young athletes are encouraged not only to compete, but also to lead, learn and grow. The remarkable growth of ISSO reflects the trust that schools, educators and parents have placed in this vision. As we expand our reach, we remain committed to nurturing talent, empowering coaches, creating new opportunities and ensuring that every student has the platform to realise their full potential.'
Rapid Growth Over Three Seasons
ISSO's network has grown at a striking pace. From 440 schools in 2024-25, it climbed to 510 in 2025-26, before crossing the 630-school milestone in the current season. Student-athlete participation has tracked this growth, rising from 21,100 to nearly 24,900, with the organisation now projecting more than 28,000 participants for 2026-27. This is the fastest three-year expansion in the organisation's history.
High-Performance, Coaching and Career Pathways
ISSO's ambitions extend well beyond running competitions. Its residential high-performance programme, ISSO IGNITE, offers training camps led by nationally and internationally accredited coaches. At the coaching level, ISSO Academy has forged partnerships with the International School Sport Federation (ISF) Academy, FIBA, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the Badminton World Federation (BWF), and Kukkiwon to deliver internationally recognised certification programmes.
The organisation has also launched SCORE (Sports Career Opportunities Reimagined), an initiative that connects student-athletes with universities, industry leaders, and sports professionals to broaden awareness of academic and career options within the sports sector. Additionally, a collaboration with the DP World Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has opened competitive and professional pathways for young golfers.
Competitive Calendar and What Comes Next
ISSO is scheduled to host national championships across Football, Tennis, Chess, Swimming, Judo, Taekwondo, Karate, and Badminton during September, with further major events planned through the remainder of the season. The organisation's stated goal is to move school sport beyond participation alone — connecting grassroots competition to high-performance and professional opportunities in a single, cohesive framework.
Point of View
But the more significant shift is structural: the organisation is attempting to solve a problem Indian school sport has long ignored — what happens after the final whistle. By linking competition to coaching certification, career awareness, and professional pathways through the PGTI, ISSO is building something closer to a national talent pipeline than a tournament circuit. The real test will be whether these frameworks produce measurable outcomes — athletes who transition into high-performance programmes or sports careers — rather than participation numbers alone.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the International Schools Sports Organisation (ISSO)?
ISSO is an Indian school sports body that organises competitions and development programmes for student-athletes across affiliated schools. For 2026-27, its network has grown to over 630 schools with more than 28,000 participants expected.
What is Namrata Adani's role in ISSO?
Namrata Adani serves as an Advisory Board Member of ISSO and is the Founding Director and Promoter of Adani International School, Ahmedabad. She is actively involved in shaping ISSO's vision to build a comprehensive sports ecosystem for young athletes in India.
What is ISSO IGNITE?
ISSO IGNITE is the organisation's residential high-performance programme, offering training camps conducted by nationally and internationally accredited coaches. It is designed to provide elite-level development opportunities to school-going athletes.
What is the SCORE initiative launched by ISSO?
SCORE — Sports Career Opportunities Reimagined — is an ISSO initiative that connects student-athletes with universities, industry leaders, and sports professionals. Its aim is to raise awareness of academic and career pathways available within the sports sector beyond competitive play.
Which sports will ISSO host national championships in for the 2026-27 season?
ISSO is scheduled to conduct national championships in Football, Tennis, Chess, Swimming, Judo, Taekwondo, Karate, and Badminton during September, with additional major events planned through the rest of the 2026-27 season.
