Applications are now open for WalkAbout’s first nationwide athlete cohort, with Co Founder and MD, BD and Partnerships Ashwini Kapila saying the initiative aims to identify and support adults over 55 who continue to compete across recognised sports in India
WalkAbout has launched what it describes as India’s first formal athlete recognition and support programme for competitive adults aged 55 and above, opening applications to athletes across the country who continue to participate in organised sport.
The WalkAbout Athlete Program is positioned as a nationwide search for adults over 55 who remain active in competitive sport, spanning disciplines such as track and field, badminton, cycling, swimming, martial arts, kabaddi, hockey, pickleball, and chess, among others recognised by governing bodies.
The initiative is aimed at identifying athletes who have continued training and competing well beyond the age typically associated with mainstream sports recognition. WalkAbout said the programme is designed to acknowledge a segment that often remains outside formal support systems despite sustained athletic participation.
Selected athletes will receive a recognition stipend of Rs 25,000 to support expenses such as training, equipment, competition entry fees, or transport. They will also receive official WalkAbout Athlete status, branded gear, and national visibility through content features, media coverage, interviews, and social media spotlights. Additional access to WalkAbout events and experiences will also be provided.
The first phase will include a cohort of four to five athletes selected from applications received across India. According to the company, the evaluation process will consider consistency of activity, community influence, story quality and relatability, willingness to engage, and diversity across geography, sport, and gender.
Ashwini Kapila, Co Founder, MD, BD and Partnerships, WalkAbout, said, “I know a 58 year old who still competes in badminton tournaments. A community member at WalkAbout took up athletics at 65. These people are everywhere in India. And almost none of them get recognized for it. The WalkAbout Athlete Program changes that.”
She added, “India has systems to find its next Olympic medallist. We’re building a system that finds the 55 year old who never stopped training. Both matter. It’s a recognition that competitive sport doesn’t end at 30 or 40.”
The programme builds on WalkAbout’s wider focus on active ageing. In December 2025, it organised the first WalkAbout Senior Games in Mumbai, followed by Senior Ball Night at Pioneer Hall in Bandra in March 2026. The company said it has also raised seed funding from HDFC Bank and works with brands including Raymond Realty, Bblunt, Furtados, and Uber.
With applications now open, the programme aims to bring national visibility to older athletes whose continued participation challenges conventional assumptions around age and competitive sport.
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