SKF India (Industrial) has announced the commencement of the “Meet The World – Road to Gothia Cup 2026” national football tournament in collaboration with Special Olympics Bharat. The event is being held from April 7 to April 10, 2026, at CDS Gwalior, bringing together young athletes with diverse cognitive abilities from across India.
The tournament serves as the starting point for India’s selection process for the Gothia Cup, widely recognized as the world’s largest and most inclusive youth football tournament. Hosted annually in Gothenburg, Sweden, the Gothia Cup offers a global platform for young players to showcase their talent, build international connections, and experience the spirit of the game at a global level.
The opening ceremony was attended by Dipankar Banerjee, Board Member of Special Olympics Bharat and Area Director for Madhya Pradesh, along with state representatives and leadership from SKF India (Industrial), including Shashi Shetty, Head of Sustainability and CSR for India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
This year’s tournament has attracted participation from more than 150 athletes representing 16 states. The competition will culminate in the selection of 25 athletes who will advance to national training camps scheduled between May and July. These camps will play a crucial role in identifying the final squad that will represent India at the Gothia Cup in Sweden.
Dr Mallika Nadda, President of Special Olympics Bharat and Chairperson of the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Advisory Council, highlighted the significance of the initiative. She noted that the return of the “Meet The World” tournament reflects the continued effort to build an inclusive sporting ecosystem that empowers athletes with intellectual disabilities. She emphasized that sports play a vital role in improving health, confidence, education, and leadership skills, while also ensuring that athletes are recognized for their abilities and given opportunities to compete with dignity. She also acknowledged SKF India’s continued support in advancing inclusive sports initiatives.
Mukund Vasudevan, Managing Director of SKF India (Industrial) Limited and President for India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, underscored the importance of the Gothia Cup as a global platform that brings together thousands of youth teams every year. He noted that the “Meet The World” initiative provides an opportunity for young and underrepresented teams to qualify for this prestigious tournament. He added that SKF’s association with both initiatives reflects its commitment to enabling athletes to progress from grassroots participation to international representation, while promoting inclusion and global collaboration through sport.
The Gothia Cup introduced the Special Olympics Trophy category in 2011, creating an important international stage for athletes with diverse cognitive abilities. The “Meet The World” initiative, launched in 2007, has since expanded across more than 20 countries where SKF operates. It continues to demonstrate the impact of collaborative efforts between corporates, sports organizations, and communities in building inclusive opportunities for young athletes worldwide.
Founded in 1907, SKF has built a legacy of engineering excellence by developing advanced bearings, seals, lubrication systems, condition monitoring solutions, and related services designed to reduce friction. By minimizing friction, SKF helps conserve energy while enabling industries to operate more efficiently, competitively, and sustainably.
With a presence in approximately 130 countries and a global network of around 17,000 distributor locations, SKF continues to deliver innovative solutions at scale. In 2024, the company reported annual sales of SEK 98,722 million and employed 38,743 people worldwide, reflecting its strong global footprint and ongoing commitment to driving smarter, more resource-efficient industries.
