THIRUVANANTHARAM: The Sport Climbing Federation of India (SCFI) has elected Dr Rajmohan Pillai, chairman of the $3 billion turnover Beta Group, as its new president.
In his inaugural address, Pillai underscored his dedication to promoting sport climbing, with a special focus on its Olympic potential. “Our goal is to secure podium finishes at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics,” he stated. “Moreover, I am committed to developing sport climbing infrastructure across the nation, aiming to have over 1 million registered players from all corners of India.”
He highlighted the crucial role of integrating sport climbing into school curriculums, pointing out that students spend approximately 25,000 hours in school from 1st Standard to 12th Standard. He emphasized the need to establish sport climbing wall facilities in schools to identify and nurture young talent. “With India’s vast population, it is essential to train top performers from a young age. We plan to enrol 1,000 new athletes each year, providing them with professional training to excel in national and international competitions,” he asserted.
Pillai pointed out the significant progress India has made in sport climbing over the past year. “Team India has earned numerous accolades in sport climbing competitions recently. Eight athletes represented India in the Asian Games, four competed in the Asian Youth Championships in China, and 25 young climbers participated in the Asian Youth Championships. At the Asian Kids Championship held at Jamshedpur, India won the maximum number of medals,” he proudly stated.
“The SCFI is committed to ensuring our athletes have the best conditions to compete and succeed,” he further remarked.
Pillai also highlighted the importance of sport climbing at the Olympic Games, mentioning its inclusion in Tokyo 2020, Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, Paris 2024, and Los Angeles 2028.
He also stressed the need for comprehensive support for athletes from childhood to adulthood, including physical, psychological, and nutritional aspects.
“We must develop athletes scientifically, focusing on lung capacity, muscle power, endurance, and metabolic health through rigorous training. This requires a collective effort from parents, teachers, and society to create an environment that encourages children to achieve high performance in sports,” he said.
For the record, Pillai formed the Beta Group as a conglomerate of nine companies in memory of his eldest brother, Kerala businessman Rajan Pillai, former chairman of Britannia Industries, whose death in 1995 closed what The Economic Times referred to as one of India’s most dramatic corporate sagas.
Beyond the boardroom, Pillai is a passionate sports enthusiast, particularly in tennis. His vision includes establishing a second Britannia Amritraj Tennis Academy and organizing a pan-India tennis league. Pillai is the president of the Kerala Roll Ball Federation and has organized numerous tennis tournaments.
His contributions to sports were recognized with the Dronacharya award and the Cashew Export Excellence Award from the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce in 2023.
