The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has named former Indian volleyball captain Abhijit Bhattacharya as the Global Winner of the 2025 Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Champions Awards. The announcement celebrates Bhattacharya’s work in rural Assam where he has used grassroots sport to challenge social barriers. Alongside the global prize, the IOC recognised five continental winners for their efforts in transforming the landscape of sport across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
Bhattacharya founded the Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL), which now includes over 12,000 children across 400 teams. The league requires villages to register equal numbers of boys’ and girls’ teams, ensuring that young women in underserved communities have the same access to competition as their male peers. “Representing India in winning this award, and most importantly representing the villages of Assam, makes me deeply emotional,” said Bhattacharya. He added that the award serves as a tribute to every volunteer and parent who allowed their daughters to play.
The continental winners also reflect a diverse range of initiatives. In Africa, Zambian footballer Racheal Kundananji was recognised for her foundation’s work in schools. For the Americas, Mónica Elvira Franco Luzcando of Panama won for her #Golerinas programme which provides free football access for girls. In Asia, South Korean volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung was honoured for her foundation’s support of young athletes. Europe’s award went to Michele Kang for her significant investment in professional women’s football, while Robyn Cockburn of New Zealand took the Oceania prize for her three decades of work in sports leadership and governance.
The GEDI awards, which evolved from the IOC Women and Sport Awards in 2021, aim to highlight those creating safe and inclusive environments. Bhattacharya’s programme in India has trained 90 community ambassadors through a UNICEF partnership to advocate for social responsibility. “On the court, the girls are making history by representing Assam for the first time ever in the quarterfinals of the Junior National Championship,” Bhattacharya noted. “Off the court, they are becoming ambassadors for child rights and climate resilience – speaking publicly and advocating for their rights.”
