1.4 BILLION STRONG: INDIA MAKES ITS MARK ON THE FIREBALL EXTREME CHALLENGE™ WORLD STAGE
- International FXC Federation
- Jun 5
- 6 min read
Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy – June 2025
The Fireball Extreme Challenge™ World Cup just got a seismic boost. India—a nation of over 1.4 billion people, unmatched cultural diversity, and deep sporting tradition—has officially joined the 2025 FXC World Cup, which will be held in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy on December 4-8, 2025! And with that, India lights up the court, bringing with it not only elite athletes but the energy of a rising sports superpower.
As one of the world's most populous and passionate nations, India’s entry marks a pivotal moment for Fireball Extreme Challenge™ (FXC), a new, global, mandatory coed team sport built on inclusion, teamwork, and innovation. This is more than participation. It’s the arrival of a giant.
India’s entry into the 2025 FXC World Cup brings more than just a team—it brings a legacy, a mission, and a movement. In a nation which is a kaleidoscope of cultures, this historic debut marks a powerful step forward into a sport that perfectly mirrors India’s own values: diversity, unity, determination, and transformation.
Led by FXC Delegate Soni Utsav Mahendrabhai and Head Coach Vijay Thakur, Team India hails from the high-altitude regions of Manali and the Himalayas, where the thin air and rugged terrain forge resilience. Training at 2,200 meters (7,200 feet), these athletes are preparing for the speed, stamina, and split-second coordination required in FXC. The environment is extreme—perfect preparation for a sport that demands everything a human body and mind can give.
“I am thrilled & proud beyond words to announce our nation's debut in the 2025 Fireball Extreme Challenge (FXC) World Cup in Italy, - said FXC Delegate Utsav Mahendrabhai - This marks a significant milestone in India's sporting journey, embracing a sport that epitomizes inclusivity, teamwork, innovation and sustainability. For India FXC offers a platform to showcase our unity in diversity on a global stage.
Participating in the FXC World Cup is not just about competition; it's about representing India's commitment to progressive sports and global camaraderie. Our involvement aims to inspire youth across the nation to embrace new challenges, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity in society and sports.
Our players come from simple homes, big hearts, and fearless spirits. They’re not just athletes — they’re symbols of what happens when belief meets opportunity. What started as a game has become a mission — to show the world that India’s youth can rise, run, fly, and Fireball!
They say Fireball Extreme Challenge™ is extreme. But you know what’s more extreme? The passion of an Indian Team who trains at over 7,000 feet. A team which is born in the mountains, built with grit, and bonded by belief.
We’re not just representing a country — we’re representing every dream that ever started with nothing but determination. From the mighty Himalayas to the courts of Italy, our athletes are ready to bring the thunder! These mountain warriors from India aren’t just playing a sport — they’re igniting a movement. FXC India is here, and we’re not here to blend in. We’re here to blaze! Team India is ready for this 2025 FXC World Cup!
Post-World Cup, our focus is to integrate FXC into schools and colleges, establish domestic leagues, and nurture talent at the grassroots level.
So, to every young Indian reading this: FXC is calling for your energy, creativity, and spirit. Whether you dream of being considered for the team representing India in Italy this December, or you want to make history by starting your own FXC team or club for the first-ever Indian FXC Championship in 2026—this is your moment. Be part of a movement that’s redefining sports across the nation.
To get involved, contact me at India@fireballsportfederation.com or send a message to +91 88667 99707. Let’s build the future of Indian sport—together.”
India’s arrival in Fireball Extreme Challenge™ is not without context. The country’s athletic legacy stretches back to the Vedic period, with a deep tradition of indigenous games like Kabaddi, Kho Kho, Snooker, and Polo, and a powerful presence in modern sports such as cricket, field hockey, and Olympic wrestling. India remains the most successful field hockey nation in Olympic history, with thirteen medals, including eight golds, and has hosted the Cricket World Cup three times—winning it twice.
“When the call came to lead the first-ever Indian FXC team to a World Cup my heart skipped a beat—not from fear, but from pride - stated Head Coach Vijay Thakur -Because this isn’t just a team. It’s a moment in history. One that will be remembered not just in the FXC world, but in India’s sporting journey forever.
You know, the hills gave us more than altitude, they gave us athletes. Our team hails from the Himalayan belt, where the mornings begin with icy winds and routines don’t need alarm clocks—they start with purpose. These young athletes didn’t have to be taught discipline; they were raised with it. They didn’t complain when training got tough—because for them, tough is the baseline.
They bring stamina shaped by altitude, minds sharpened by hardship, and hearts big enough to carry the flag. But don’t get me wrong—this is not a story of struggle. This is a story of talent found, refined, and unleashed.
Everything makes this team really special. I’ve trained a lot of teams, but nothing—and I mean nothing—comes close to this one. You’ll see it when they move on the FXC court—synchronized like a heartbeat. They communicate like siblings, trust like soldiers, and compete like champions. It’s beautiful ‘coz we’re not just training athletes, we’re shaping champions who represent 1.4 billion dreams—every drop of their sweat speaks for India!
They’re training relentlessly at high-altitude conditions in the Himalayas —every jump and sprint preparing them for the explosiveness FXC demands. Their background in handball, basketball, kabaddi, and athletics makes them versatile, sharp, and unpredictable. But most importantly, they play with respect—for the sport, for each other, and for the flag they wear."
FXC Is the Game This Generation Deserves
This sport is everything young India stands for—fast, inclusive, gender-equal, strategic, and fierce. It respects brains and brawn. It demands team chemistry over individual ego. And it gives space to rise, no matter where you start from.
"In today’s world, many young people are getting caught up in excessive cell phone use and harmful habits like substance abuse. A sport like this offers a powerful alternative — it inspires youth to choose fitness, discipline, and purpose.
When a player from a small town represents the country on an international stage, it sends a strong message: 'That could be you.' These athletes are not from somewhere else — they rise from the same streets, schools, and villages. Their journey becomes a beacon of hope for countless others, proving that with dedication, anyone can achieve greatness.
Watching our coed team practice every day—boys and girls diving for the same ball, shouting encouragement, taking hits and giving high-fives—I knew something big was happening. This isn’t just training. This is transformation." added coach Vijay Thakur - My Message to the Youth of India is simple: If you’ve got fire in your belly, teamwork in your bones, and respect in your game—FXC is waiting for you. This is your sport. This is your time. If these mountain kids can rise to a World Cup, so can you. Come, play FXC. Let the world know what you're made of! We’re building something big. Something permanent. Come join us. Come wear the jersey."
FXC, with its intense coed gameplay, gender-balanced teams, and emphasis on stamina, agility, and collective intelligence, represents a new frontier—one tailor-made for India’s blend of ancient discipline and youthful energy. With its athletes Team India is poised to be not just competitive, but thrilling to watch.
The Indian team has received official support from MaXaM Productions Holdings, sponsor of the 2025 FXC World Cup and of S.M.I.L.Y. Academy, a global non-profit promoting sustainable lifestyles through youth-led eco-businesses inspired by Indigenous knowledge. Indigenous Peoples—only 5% of the world’s population—protect 85% of Earth’s biodiversity.
The Academy was co-founded by Jadav Payeng, Rituraj Phukan, Munmuni Payeng, Matteo Salerno, and Claudia Laricchia. Jadav Payeng, India’s “Forest Man” and Padma Shri awardee, has planted over 700 hectares of forest in Assam. His support merges sport, sustainability, and social responsibility: “Where I planted a forest, I now plant seeds of human consciousness with SMILY Academy, through platforms like the Fireball World Cup.”
A New Sport, A Global Start: FXC Brings Nations Together
With over 5,000 players across 8 countries, and institutional endorsement from the World Bank Program’s Connect4Climate, the G7 Summit’s Women 7, and the International Amateur & Workers Sports Confederation, Fireball Extreme Challenge™ is no longer just a sport—it’s a movement. A global celebration of coed competition, inclusion, and personal transformation.
India’s confirmation reinforces FXC’s mission and momentum. From the heights of the Himalayas to the hot beaches of Mexico and the heart of Europe, athletes are uniting around a new kind of sport—fast, fair, and full of purpose.
As the countdown to December 4th begins, the world isn’t just preparing for a tournament—it’s witnessing the rise of a World Cup like no other, where the game itself is a statement. In a time when we all feel increasingly divided and violence—especially against women and minorities—is on the rise, Fireball Extreme Challenge™ stands as a bold declaration that unity, tolerance, inclusion, teamwork, and gender equality are not just ideals, but realities we can build. On and off the court, FXC is proving that sport can be a force for change.
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Very happy and excited that we are playing on international level ❤️