Hyderabad chapter of Sisters in Sweat kicks off with sessions in football, kickboxing, and more

On a Sunday morning, a group of women gather at turfside, hyderabad. They begin with a warm up and spend the next 90 minutes playing football. Not all of them are adept at the game. A coach guides them with the dos and do’ts. The women sportingly navigate the moves and by the end of the session, are a sweety message. The satisfaction of a morning well is unmistakable. It aligns with the objective with the hyderabad chapter of sisters in Sweat kicked off a few weeks ago.

In 2017, Sisters in Sweat (SIS) Began in Bengaluru as a Community to Encourage women to participate in sports and fitness. Founded by Swetha Subbiah and Tanvie Hans, Sis is now a 10,000-plus communication with a presence in Bengaluru, Mumbai, New Delhi and Hyderabad. The Members Participate in Basketball, Football, Kickboxing, Running, Touch Rugby, Yoga, Dance and Other Fitness activities.

Zerodha-Backed Rainmatter recently Announced Its Decision to Invest in Sis, Giving It the Scope to Further its Reach. Swetha confirms that the communication is looking to expand to 10 cities by 2026.

The beginning

Sis began over a game of football with friends. Tanvie, a football player with the English Premier League, Had Moved Back to Delhi and Eventually to Bengaluru. Swetha, A Nike-Certified Fitness Instructor, And Tanvie, Met in 2016 during the Nike India Promotional Campaign ‘Da Da Ding’ and Best Friends. Shweta recounts, “a friend who was keen to learn football requested tanvie to conduct a session. Sunday. “

Swetha Subbiah and Tanvie Hans, Founders of SIS | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Over Breakfast, the women expressed their interest in regular meet-ups. A Whatsapp Group was created immediatily and the 17 women who participated in the game became members. At the time, swetha and tanvie did not realise they have created a unique communication. “Both of us had always been outgoing and participated in sports and fitness activities. Sessions and spaces, “Says Swetha.

It was a challenge to find certified female coaches, so sis began roping in both male and female certified coaches for Each Sports and Fitness Sessions. The Community Grew in Strength.

SIS Hyderabad

The Hyderabad Chapter Took Shape When Anusha Rao, A Former Professional Tennis Player, Showed Interest. She Had Heard About Sis Through Friends in Bengaluru and Approached Swetha. Anusha Spread the Word Through Her School and College Friends, Some of Whom are in the Corporate Sector. Word-of-Mouth Publicity and Social Media Resulted in A 250-Strong Community.

Anusha Rao | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

SIS Hyderabad Meets on Saturdays and Sundays, and Aims to Host Sessions through the week as the communication grows. The challenge is to find meet-up spots in a geographically-expanding city. “Banjara and Jubilee Hills Seem to Be Convenent for Most Members, even there that from from secondrabad. Are Further Away.

Anusha Observes that while Frisbee Evokes Enthusiasm in Mumbai and Bengaluru, Hyderabad Veers towards football, kickboxing, running, pickleball, and calisthenics. Each Week, Details of the Meet-up are posted on the sis website and the Whatsapp group. Interested Members can Register and Pay a Fee, which ranges from ₹ 300 to ₹ 1000, Depending on the venue and the coaching requirement.

Cracking the age barrier

Coaching for Aspiring Runners has been begun this month, apart from weekly football sessions. Plans are on to encourage women to have a holistic approach to sports and fitness, with strength training, flexibility, mandatory warmups and cool downs. Anusha observations that most participants in hyderabad are in the 20s-to-40s age group. “Fifty-Plus age group is tougher to crack. Activities that can be explred. “

Warming up for the football session | Photo Credit: Siddhant Thakur/ Shot on OnePlus/ #Framesofindia

Anusha is confident that “Playing a sport is the new method to socialising”, and believes that more women would be keen if sessions could be held in neighbourhoods of the rights. “We want to be able to conduct sessions in every corner of hyderabad, from secunderabad to tellapur.”

As the Hyderabad Chapter Hopes to expand its reach, sis has larger plans. Backed by Rainmatter’s Funding, Swetha Hopes to Conduct Mass Participatory events. Earlier this year, bengaluru sis hosted a run in which 2,000 women participated.

“Most of our regular sessions have up to 20 women participating, and in some cases go up to 100 to 100 to 150. Other, “Swetha Says.

Sports and fitness are made less intimidating by playing fun music in the background, swetha says. “Coaches function more like friends. It is important for everyone to have a great time while indulging in sports and fitness.”

Published – May 22, 2025 03:16 pm IST