SK Thanigaivelan,
Managing Trustee, Victory Sports Foundation
Our Governance Team
Mr SK Thanigaivelan is one of the founding members of Victory Sports Foundation. With a Masters in Social Work., Thanigaivelan is the force that brings in passion into Victory Sports Foundation. A sportsperson himself, it has always been his earnest desire is to cultivate a generation of children who are not just only good sportspersons but also model citizens who contribute to their society.
During his formative years, Thanigaivelan saw many underprivileged children living without much hope in life. Most of them had either dropped out of the school, succumbed to temptation of alcohol/drugs, went astray or took to a life of crime. The burning desire to give back to his community and do something useful for these children consumed him. This is when the idea of Victory Sports Foundation was born. His vision is to transform the lives of these children through the power of sports.
Thanigaivelan’s contribution to sports has been recognized by the Indian Sports Ministry and UNICEF. As a sportsperson, he has participated in National Level sports competitions in Yoga, Basketball and Boxing. He has been instrumental in setting up 5 football grounds in 4 districts of Tamil Nadu. He currently consults for Disha Sports Academy, CSR project of the Ma Foundation’s CSR wing and is instrumental in implementing the organization’s CSR activities across Tamil Nadu.
Thanigaivelan is also the recipient of the Changing Lives Through The Power of Sports Award in 2010, Ramanujachariya Ambedkar Award in 2017 and Swami Vivekananda Youth Power Award in 2020
Veerendra P Mathur,
Trustee, Victory Sports Foundation
Mr Veerendra Mathur is has been associated with Victory Sports Foundation since our inception. A philanthropist at heart, he has been instrumental in providing focus to all our initiatives.
A first generation entrepreneur, Mr Mathur finished his post-graduation in Pharmaceutical studies in the year 1991. He soon went on to establish himself in the field on Information Technology. He has established three ventures in the IT and ITES arena between 1991 and 2000. He exited his last Enterprise, Future Focus Infotech, in April 2020.
He has been an active member of professional bodies such as TiE (The Indus Entrepreneur), ERA (Executive Recruiters Association) & NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies). He has served as the Chairman of ERA and has played the role of Member of the Governing Council of TiE – Chennai.
Inspired by his mother and guided by the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Mr Mathur strives to contribute his bit to the community. The cause of ‘upliftment of underprivileged children’ is very close to his heart. He truly believes that providing them with education and sports support is the way to go to make them rounded personalities and create a positive change in their lives.
Harnessing the human potential, has been his means to various professional & social goals.
Sharmistha Sen,
Trustee, Victory Sports Foundation
One of the co-founders at Victory Sports Foundation, Ms Sharmistha Sen truly believes in the cause of the upliftment of children from underprivileged backgrounds. Her strong conviction and desire for a world where children live safely and happily is one of the driving forces behind Victory Sports Foundation. She helps foster a culture of respect and sensitivity for all our beneficiaries and counterparts.
In addition to being actively involved in Victory’s pursuits, Ms. Sen dons the role of an entrepreneur. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SoftSolutions4U, a software development company specialised in high end web applications.
Mr SK Thanigaivelan is one of the founding members of Victory Sports Foundation. With a Masters in Social Work., Thanigaivelan is the force that brings in passion into Victory Sports Foundation. A sportsperson himself, it has always been his earnest desire is to cultivate a generation of children who are not just only good sportspersons but also model citizens who contribute to their society.
During his formative years, Thanigaivelan saw many underprivileged children living without much hope in life. Most of them had either dropped out of the school, succumbed to temptation of alcohol/drugs, went astray or took to a life of crime. The burning desire to give back to his community and do something useful for these children consumed him. This is when the idea of Victory Sports Foundation was born. His vision is to transform the lives of these children through the power of sports.
Thanigaivelan’s contribution to sports has been recognized by the Indian Sports Ministry and UNICEF. As a sportsperson, he has participated in National Level sports competitions in Yoga, Basketball and Boxing. He has been instrumental in setting up 5 football grounds in 4 districts of Tamil Nadu. He currently consults for Disha Sports Academy, CSR project of the Ma Foundation’s CSR wing and is instrumental in implementing the organization’s CSR activities across Tamil Nadu.
Thanigaivelan is also the recipient of the Changing Lives Through The Power of Sports Award in 2010, Ramanujachariya Ambedkar Award in 2017 and Swami Vivekananda Youth Power Award in 2020
Mr Veerendra Mathur is has been associated with Victory Sports Foundation since our inception. A philanthropist at heart, he has been instrumental in providing focus to all our initiatives.
A first generation entrepreneur, Mr Mathur finished his post-graduation in Pharmaceutical studies in the year 1991. He soon went on to establish himself in the field on Information Technology. He has established three ventures in the IT and ITES arena between 1991 and 2000. He exited his last Enterprise, Future Focus Infotech, in April 2020.
He has been an active member of professional bodies such as TiE (The Indus Entrepreneur), ERA (Executive Recruiters Association) & NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies). He has served as the Chairman of ERA and has played the role of Member of the Governing Council of TiE – Chennai.
Inspired by his mother and guided by the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Mr Mathur strives to contribute his bit to the community. The cause of ‘upliftment of underprivileged children’ is very close to his heart. He truly believes that providing them with education and sports support is the way to go to make them rounded personalities and create a positive change in their lives.
Harnessing the human potential, has been his means to various professional & social goals.
One of the co-founders at Victory Sports Foundation, Ms Sharmistha Sen truly believes in the cause of the upliftment of children from underprivileged backgrounds. Her strong conviction and desire for a world where children live safely and happily is one of the driving forces behind Victory Sports Foundation. She helps foster a culture of respect and sensitivity for all our beneficiaries and counterparts.
In addition to being actively involved in Victory’s pursuits, Ms. Sen dons the role of an entrepreneur. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SoftSolutions4U, a software development company specialised in high end web applications.
Hariprasad
Mr. Hari Prasad is a budding entrepreneur with footprints in multiple field namely IT consulting, Logistics and Finance. Hariprasad holds Msc from Birmingham City University and MBA Coventry University. Hari is the Assistant Secretary of Chennai Football Association and actively involved in the club activities.
His passion for the game of football has been inherited from his father Mr. V.M.Pugalendran who has largely contributed to the development of football in various ways in Tamil Nadu. During his stay in UK, Mr. Prasad was impressed with ways how football is made into a career for children there and made it a point to replicate it here in Chennai. His work in CFA is driven in this direction; to identify kids at their formative years and provide professional support.
Hari has has been involved with Victory foundation in helping the foundation with its operational functions and has been pivotal part of the football activities of the foundation. With his experience and insights, he brings a different perspective to the table.
He strongly believes “SERVICE TO MANKIND is SERVICE TO GOD” and sports is the means to do it.
Ramaswamy Meyyappan
Experienced lawyer at the Madras High Court, National Company Law Tribunal, Mr. Ramkumar Meyyappan has B.S. (Major in Mathematics, minor in Commerce), University of Victoria, Canada; and B.L. (Madras Law College), Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University.
Ram specializes in practice of Sports and Media Law, Commercial and Corporate law, Insolvency, Company Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Real Estate and Land Laws, select Public Interest Litigations (mostly on issues surrounding animal rights, environment, policy of the state, civic duty), in Arbitrations and in transactional and convincing practice. He holds membership in prestigious institutions namely Charted institute of Arbitrators (U.K.), Young Practitioners Group, Asian International Arbitral Centre; Sports Arbitrator, Asian International Arbitral Centre;
In addition to his practice, Mr. Ram is engaged and works with think tanks, policy bodies, law commission, social organisations, institutions that create awareness among larger public and assist with campaigns and knowledge building. He is Fellow, India Foundation; Fellow and Core Organiser, Tamil Nadu Young Thinkers’ Forum, State Treasurer, Tamil Nadu, Akhil Bharatha Adhivakta Parishad (Akhila Bharatha Vazhakaringargal Sangam) and Member, Exnora International.
An Avid Mountaineer, traveller and environmentalist, at Victory Sports Foundation, Ram Meyiappan provides guidance on legal and compliances matters.
Ramkumar Raghuraman
Mr. Ramkumar is an independent management consultant with varied interests. Armed with an MBA degree from Purdue University and global work experience, Ram provides strategy and direction to help Victory Foundation achieve our goals. In addition, he is focused on driving institutional and corporate partnerships to help expand our operation.
Ram is on the board of a Delhi-based NGO called Dribble Academy which aims to develop world-class basketball talent from rural India. From 2013-19, he was a Director at Institute of Supply Management (ISM India).
A sportsman in his younger years, Ram understands the power of sport and its ability to transform individuals by building character and life skills. A global citizen firmly rooted in Indian ethos, Ram has traveled to over 30 countries and 5 continents around the world and aims to visit 100 countries and all states of India before he turns 60. He is fiercely passionate about societal responsibility and giving back to the community and is involved in multiple charitable causes and initiatives.
Mr. Hari Prasad is a budding entrepreneur with footprints in multiple field namely IT consulting, Logistics and Finance. Hariprasad holds Msc from Birmingham City University and MBA Coventry University. Hari is the Assistant Secretary of Chennai Football Association and actively involved in the club activities.
His passion for the game of football has been inherited from his father Mr. V.M.Pugalendran who has largely contributed to the development of football in various ways in Tamil Nadu. During his stay in UK, Mr. Prasad was impressed with ways how football is made into a career for children there and made it a point to replicate it here in Chennai. His work in CFA is driven in this direction; to identify kids at their formative years and provide professional support.
Hari has has been involved with Victory foundation in helping the foundation with its operational functions and has been pivotal part of the football activities of the foundation. With his experience and insights, he brings a different perspective to the table.
He strongly believes “SERVICE TO MANKIND is SERVICE TO GOD” and sports is the means to do it.
Experienced lawyer at the Madras High Court, National Company Law Tribunal, Mr. Ramkumar Meyyappan has B.S. (Major in Mathematics, minor in Commerce), University of Victoria, Canada; and B.L. (Madras Law College), Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University.
Ram specializes in practice of Sports and Media Law, Commercial and Corporate law, Insolvency, Company Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Real Estate and Land Laws, select Public Interest Litigations (mostly on issues surrounding animal rights, environment, policy of the state, civic duty), in Arbitrations and in transactional and convincing practice. He holds membership in prestigious institutions namely Charted institute of Arbitrators (U.K.), Young Practitioners Group, Asian International Arbitral Centre; Sports Arbitrator, Asian International Arbitral Centre;
In addition to his practice, Mr. Ram is engaged and works with think tanks, policy bodies, law commission, social organisations, institutions that create awareness among larger public and assist with campaigns and knowledge building. He is Fellow, India Foundation; Fellow and Core Organiser, Tamil Nadu Young Thinkers’ Forum, State Treasurer, Tamil Nadu, Akhil Bharatha Adhivakta Parishad (Akhila Bharatha Vazhakaringargal Sangam) and Member, Exnora International.
An Avid Mountaineer, traveller and environmentalist, at Victory Sports Foundation, Ram Meyiappan provides guidance on legal and compliances matters.
Mr. Ramkumar is an independent management consultant with varied interests. Armed with an MBA degree from Purdue University and global work experience, Ram provides strategy and direction to help Victory Foundation achieve our goals. In addition, he is focused on driving institutional and corporate partnerships to help expand our operation.
Ram is on the board of a Delhi-based NGO called Dribble Academy which aims to develop world-class basketball talent from rural India. From 2013-19, he was a Director at Institute of Supply Management (ISM India).
A sportsman in his younger years, Ram understands the power of sport and its ability to transform individuals by building character and life skills. A global citizen firmly rooted in Indian ethos, Ram has traveled to over 30 countries and 5 continents around the world and aims to visit 100 countries and all states of India before he turns 60. He is fiercely passionate about societal responsibility and giving back to the community and is involved in multiple charitable causes and initiatives.
Mr. Venkatesh is an independent Management Consultant in the social impact sector. With extensive consulting experience for one of the Big Four companies in the US prior to his current stint, Venkatesh provides overall strategy and direction to help Victory Sports Foundation achieve our goals. In addition, Venkatesh is focused on creating a program structure and methodology for our football program which will act as the backbone of our entire operations.
Venkatesh has prior experience in the Sport For Development (S4D) sector, working to help develop one of India’s biggest S4D companies – Just For Kicks. Venkatesh helped set up their operations across sites in India, establish a football – for good program, train coaches on effective program methodologies and help create a model to impact 5000+ under-resourced children in India.
Venkatesh’s main passions stem from his prior experience in the Indian sport field where he was a professional cricketer representing the TN state at the age-group and university levels and playing in the acclaimed TN first division league. He has always had a motivation to give back to the Indian S4D space and wanted to set up a strong structure to create impact through a holistic and well-rounded sports program