KKR and Meer Foundation Team Up to Empower Rural Bengal Girls Through Football Training

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Meer Foundation have joined hands to empower young girls from West Bengal through a special football training program. The initiative is designed for 50 girls from tribal and rural backgrounds, aiming to create a vibrant sports community where these girls can nurture their athletic talents.

In collaboration with Shreeja India, a non-governmental organization in Kolkata, the program targets first-generation learning (FGL) girls aged 10 to 20 in Rajnagar Block, Birbhum district, West Bengal. These girls belong to families lacking basic amenities such as education, nutrition, health, and proper livelihood opportunities, with parents primarily working as farm laborers or construction workers.

Meer Foundation and KKR aim to uncover hidden talents among young women in the region, offering them opportunities to pursue a professional football career. Venky Mysore, CEO of Knight Riders Group, expressed the commitment to make a positive impact beyond on-field performance and cultivate sportsmanship among the underprivileged in West Bengal.

Funds for this program were raised through the 6th edition of Knight Golf, an annual charity event organized by the Meer Foundation and KKR during IPL 2023. KKR has a tradition of actively participating in charitable events to contribute to the city's and its residents' well-being.

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Kanchan Yadav, Head of CSR at Meer Foundation, mentioned that the funds raised during the Knight Golf Charity Event at IPL 2023 would be allocated towards sports development for children needing resources and various sports training.

Meer Foundation and KKR have a history of supporting diverse initiatives, ranging from aiding acid attack survivors' recovery to tree-planting efforts and waste management at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, during the IPL.

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All You Need to Know About Knight Riders

The Knight Riders brand is a global presence in international cricket, with four professional franchises: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) in the Caribbean Premier League, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (ADKR) in the UAE International League T20, and Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) with long-term investments in Major League Cricket in the USA. KKR has won two IPL championships and made three appearances in the final. TKR's Men's Team has won the CPL championship four times, while TKR Women was the first-ever Women's Team to win the championship in the inaugural WCPL in 2022. The Knight Riders Academy actively scouts talented cricketers worldwide to help them improve their cricketing skills and fitness year-round.

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