A grassroots football volunteer for the last 12 years, Tan Jie’s contributions have led to the transformation of Sanhe Village in China PR into a thriving football hub, drawing more than 100,000 visitors a year and significantly reducing poverty levels.

Over the years, the Sanhe native has founded the province’s first rural football club, and established village training programmes and competitions involving hundreds of children in the region.

Tan Jie has also played a key role in attracting investors to improve existing football infrastructure in the province, enabling the Sanhe Village Farmers’ Fitness Football Club to participate in and secure fourth place in the 14th National Games of China PR.

“Football has brought tremendous changes to my hometown and I feel a great sense of achievement to see the many children who have fallen in love with the sport. Now, we are also receiving support from the government and we will continue to enhance our village competitions,” said Tan.

“This award is a huge recognition after years of devotion to grassroots football, and it encourages me to continue my work so that football in China PR can achieve more significant development.”

Sports for Life (SFL) is a community sports programme that has worked relentlessly to promote social inclusion, dismantle prejudices, and integrate the marginalised into the mainstream community through the unifying power of football.

Established in 2016, the initiative was aimed at local African refugees to acclimatise to their new lives in the region through sports programmes, cross-cultural engagements, and mental health support.

In the last six years, the programme has grown exponentially and now, supported by local schools, government bodies and corporates, features football camps, free-to-play training sessions, and clubs spanning age groups from Under-6 to Under-18 categories.

“The SFL programme has generated clear, measurable benefits for underprivileged youth and the wider community by expanding access to sport, developing leadership, and creating inclusive spaces where diversity is celebrated,” said SFL’s Medard Privat Koya.

“In the future, we will make more meaningful connections with stakeholders in Hong Kong, China so that we can continue building robust systems to track participation, performance, and community impact, focusing on socio-economic and ethnic diversity.”

Dedicated to fostering inclusivity and empowerment among children and youth from marginalised communities, the Tata Steel Foundation’s Grassroots Sports Development Initiative operates across multiple states in India, impacting over two million lives.

Among its many notable achievements, the initiative has established 133 training centres and 90 school outreach programmes, with several participants gaining international exposure.

Besides its commitment to gender equality, which has led to a 22% rise in female participation, the Tata Steel Foundation’s Sports for Schools initiative has nurtured physical literacy from an early age, enhanced the capacity of local coaches through continuous learning modules, and created stronger linkages between community centres and professional sports academies.

“This recognition is a reflection of the collective commitment of the Tata Steel Foundation team, community coaches, and partner organisations who believe in the transformative power of sport,” said Captain Amitabh, Head of Skill Development at the Foundation.

“It reinforces the Foundation’s vision of making sports a vehicle for social change and youth development in India’s underserved regions, and will inspire us to continue building a movement where every child, regardless of their background, has access to quality sports opportunities, mentorship, and hope for a brighter future.”

Established in 2019 with the dream of providing every child in Myanmar the chance to enjoy football and learn life values through the sport, the Future Stars Football Training (FSFT) had humble beginnings with only a handful of children.

However, with community support, the FSFT has grown into one of Myanmar’s most recognised grassroots entities, featuring academies and various programmes that provide youngsters with a safe, fun and inclusive environment to play, regardless of ability, gender, or financial status.

With participation increasing by over 300% in the past two years, the FSFT, supported by 25 dedicated technical staff, has provided training for more than 3,000 youngsters, including children from regional orphanages and low-income neighbourhoods.

“The success of Future Stars Football Training belongs to our entire community, and we are deeply grateful to our dedicated coaches and staff who work tirelessly to create a safe and inspiring environment for every child,” said Dr Ye Wint Kyaw of the FSFT.

“Most importantly, we thank our young players, as their energy and passion are the true heart of FSFT. This recognition from the AFC is a great honour, and it is a proud moment for all of us to have our efforts recognised at the Continental level.”