ISRAD is the brainchild of Om Kubal and Shubham Surve, through which they are aiming to contribute comprehensively towards the sports ecosystem by adding value to sportsmen with innovative research and analysis, that, in turn, will eventually lead to an overall development of every stakeholder.
ISRAD’s coming into existence- the story behind
It was during the COVID-19 pandemic days that young shooter Om Kubal pondered on the idea of forming an entity that would act as a one-stop solution for all the requirements of sports. At that time, Om simultaneously trained shooters at his own ‘Lakhwavedh Shooting Range‘ in Mumbai. It was there he shared his idea with one of his students, Shubham Surve.
Shubham, an Economics student, having a flair for sports, found the idea fascinating and almost immediately agreed to be a part of a young venture. Both Om and Shubham then rode the common boat to start a new journey of hope, success and survival.
ISRAD was formed in 2022 as a sports management company with the primary objective of giving value to the players, especially in two sports- Pickleball and Shooting. It also delves into research and analysis of various sporting events. The organisation, which now has an unambiguous vision of innovative evolution and steady development of sport, however, faced a certain confusion at its initiation.
The two young entrepreneurs could not come to a conclusion about the name of their organisation. After much discussion and debate, they ultimately jotted down Innovation of Sports Research, Analysis and Development, whose acronym is ISRAD.
ISRAD- Value to Players
Any player who is investing his/her time and money on playing Pickleball to pursue it as a career, deserves proper infrastructural assistance, physical and mental support, training and coaching. But, on the other side of the coin, incentive in the form of financial aid is needed for continuance and greater output. This is where ISRAD wants to chip in. As Om Kubal says, “The parents are often concerned about how their son or daughter will survive if they play Pickleball because it is not at all a popular sport. So we have made a plan of organising various tournaments in multiple venues where players will be paid a decent prize money.”
Om and Shubham have also thought a similar value-added format for Shooting players. They plan to start a Shooting League, different from the traditional tournaments, first in Maharashtra and then throughout India. Shubham explains, “The reason behind such a league is to provide ample tournaments to all players so that they can prove themselves. We are already in talks with the governing bodies so that they give us permission to conduct such tournaments.”
ISRAD- Research and Analysis
The two young entrepreneurs have already started researching and is working towards creating an organized collection of data on different aspects of sports. This will enable all sports enthusiasts to fall back on ISRAD’s data analysis division whenever they are stuck.
ISRAD- Sports Development
Om and Shubham’s company has already developed two multi-purpose sports courts in Mumbai. The first one, at Cheda Nagar Gymkhana in Chembur, was constructed totally by ISRAD on a land given exclusively to them by the Gymkhana authorities. The next one is at Powai where ISRAD got the responsibility of maintaining an existing Basketball court.
On both the courts, there are multiple sporting activities happening presently- Pickleball, Shooting, Archery and Basketball. Om and Subham have plans to expand the disciplines to Volleyball, Throwball, Dueball, Futsal and Box Cricket. Moreover, in this short period, ISRAD has organised a 3×3 Basketball tournament, ‘Monsoon Mania’, at Powai where more than 300 players participated through different teams.
ISRAD- Sustainability Plans
With an ambitious five-year plan, Om and Shubham understand the importance of sustainability. They have strategically invested on Pickleball Paddles, Shooting Jackets, and some other sporting accessories that hold potential for future commercial benefits. Moreover, they prioritize establishing a robust presence for ISRAD across social and digital media platforms, ensuring maximum visibility for their company.
Om Kubal and Shubham Surve- the two visionary entrepreneurs whose unwavering determination is definitely going to yield fruits of success, that can really play a huge role in bringing some change in Indian sport.
