Mumbai, 20th July 2026: Mankind Pharma, one of India’s leading pharmaceutical companies, has partnered with Minerva Academy Football Club to support and promote the sport of football in the country. As part of the association, the Mankind Pharma logo will appear on the front and back of the jerseys of three of the academy’s age-group teams.
The teams will carry the company’s branding in matches played both within India and internationally through the year, giving the partnership visibility across some of the most competitive youth tournaments in world football.
Founded in 2015 by Ranjit Bajaj, Minerva Academy has grown into one of India’s most successful grassroots football institutions. The academy was crowned World Youth Champions in 2025 at the Gothia Cup in Sweden and has produced more than 240 internationals across age groups. Continuing its winning run, the Minerva Academy U-12 team, representing India, won both the Gothia Cup B-12, 2026 and the Helsinki Cup, 2026. Its work is anchored by the ambitious “World Cup Batch 2034” vision of helping India qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
“At Mankind Pharma, our purpose has always extended beyond medicine to the wellbeing of the nation. Football builds discipline, teamwork and ambition in our young people, and Minerva Academy has shown the world what Indian talent can achieve. We are proud to stand behind these teams as they carry the country’s hopes onto the global stage,” said Rajeev Juneja, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mankind Pharma.
“This backing from Mankind Pharma comes at a defining moment for Indian football. Support from a homegrown leader allows our players to train, travel and compete with the very best, and brings us one step closer to our dream of seeing India at the FIFA World Cup. We are grateful for their belief in our young footballers,” said Ranjit Bajaj, Founder and Director, Minerva Academy Football Club.
Mankind Pharma’s support for Minerva Academy reflects its commitment to encouraging sporting excellence beyond cricket. While cricket enjoys widespread popularity in India, football is one of the world’s biggest sports and continues to inspire millions globally. Through this partnership, Mankind Pharma aims to support young footballers, encourage children and youth to build a career in the sport, and contribute to the growth of football in India by creating greater opportunities for emerging talent.
About Mankind Pharma
Mankind Pharma (BSE: 543904 | NSE: MANKIND) is one of the largest pharmaceutical company in India, which focuses on the domestic market with its Pan India presence. Mankind operates at the intersection of the Indian pharmaceutical formulations and consumer healthcare sectors with the aim of providing quality products at affordable prices. The company is a leading player in the domestic pharmaceuticals business present across acute and chronic therapeutic areas including anti-infectives, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, antidiabetic, neuro/CNS, gynecology, VMN and respiratory, among others with a strategy to increase chronic presence going ahead. In the consumer healthcare business, the company operates in the condoms, pregnancy detection, emergency contraceptives, antacid powders, vitamin and mineral supplements and anti-acne preparations categories, among others, with several category-leading brands. Following the acquisition of Bharat Serums and Vaccines Limited, Mankind Pharma has further strengthened its leadership in the domestic women’s health segment. Mankind’s distribution network includes a robust field force of 18,500+ professionals, and a reach extending to over five lakh doctors across urban and rural markets. The company has 32 manufacturing facilities in India manufacturing a wide range of dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, syrups, vials, ampoules, blow fill seal, soft and hard gels, eye drops, creams, contraceptives and other over-the-counter products. Mankind has a consistent track record of product innovation through 7 dedicated R&D facilities backed by more than 740+ scientists.