Junoon: India’s First Sports Management Fest | Led by IISM Students

Junoon, an initiative led by IISM students, is the first intercollegiate Sports Management festival in India that brings the spirit of professionally run sporting leagues to the collegiate stage. True to its name, Junoon embodies an unyielding passion for sports, blending athletic excellence with high standards of sports management.

Hosted by IISM, the festival challenges students to transform vision into reality by conceptualising, planning, and executing a league that mirrors professional sporting ecosystems. From athletes and fans to partners and organisers, Junoon delivers an immersive experience that celebrates competition, teamwork, and innovation.

Mission

Junoon aims to provide a competitive platform for colleges across Mumbai, enabling athletes to showcase their talent in a structured, professionally managed league environment.

Equally important is the festival’s commitment to nurturing future sports managers. Through hands-on involvement, the organising team gains real-world exposure to planning, operations, marketing, and stakeholder management, ensuring the delivery of a seamless and rewarding experience for everyone involved.

Vision

The Junoon team aspires to be a pioneer in reshaping collegiate sports culture, setting new benchmarks in professionalism, execution, and fan engagement.

Our vision is to revolutionise the way sports are organised and experienced at the collegiate level in Mumbai, establishing Junoon as a standard bearer for excellence and innovation in sports event management.

Junoon 2025 – Bigger, Better & Bolder

Junoon 2025 raised the bar like never before. With more teams, higher intensity, and unmatched energy, this edition delivered a truly unforgettable sporting spectacle.

From nail-biting matches and vibrant fan zones to flawless execution behind the scenes, every element reflected the core values of passion, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Designed to elevate the Junoon legacy, the 2025 edition showcased what happens when ambition meets excellence.

Junoon opening ceremony announcement

Mascot, Logo, Dates & Venue

• Mascot: JOE (Journey of Excellence) – the face of Junoon, symbolising resilience, enthusiasm, and the unstoppable drive that defines the festival.
• Dates: 14th, 15th & 16th November 2025

Three action-packed days of competition, celebration, and sporting brilliance.

• Timings: Full-day event across all three days, ensuring non-stop engagement for athletes and fans.
• Venue: Sports Foundry, Bhandup & IISM Campus

Top -tier facilities combined with a vibrant campus atmosphere to deliver an exceptional sporting experience.

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony set the tone for the event, unfolding a day before the main action with grandeur and excitement. The evening was graced by Indian footballer Raju Gaikwad Sir as the Chief Guest  – a seasoned defender who has represented the nation 35 times, played for top I-League and Indian Super League clubs. Moreover, Contingent leaders came together for an evening filled with energy, camaraderie, and leadership vibes. From engaging anchoring and vibrant dance performances to interactive games and heartfelt felicitations, every moment reflected unity, enthusiasm, and true team spirit.

Raju Gaikwad, Chief Guest at IISM

The ceremony was a powerful beginning that brought everyone together and set the stage for an unforgettable sporting celebration.

Day 1:  Junoon 2025 Takes Off

Day 1 delivered a thrilling, edge-of-the-seat start to India’s first Sports Management Fest. From the adrenaline-fuelled cricket matches to the intensity of football, the action never slowed down.

The day was further energised by the presence of IISM Co-Founder Ms. Rasika Kulkarni, Associate Dean Mr. Amitava Pal, and Program Head Ms. Avanti Desai, who were present to motivate and encourage students.

Further, the IPL Auction Simulation ran seamlessly, witnessing record bids on Virat Kohli, while towering sixes and net-rattling goals set the tone for the days ahead.

Day 2: Indoor Battles of Skill & Strategy

Day 2 transformed the indoor arena into a battlefield of precision and passion. From table tennis rallies and tactical carrom strikes to strategic chess battles, BGMI clutch plays, and FIFA joystick madness, every sport was spectacular to watch.

Indoor Games

Competition intensified, and the arena echoed with pure Junoon as athletes gave it their all.

Adding to the energy of the day, IISM Founder Director Mr. Nilesh Kulkarni was present to motivate the athletes and inspire IISM students to give their best as proficient sports professionals.

Day 3: Finale

The final day unfolded with calm reflection, leading into a heartfelt closing Ceremony. Athletes, volunteers, and organisers were celebrated for their dedication and contribution to Junoon 2025.

Filled with pride, relief, and joy, the fest concluded on an inspiring note—leaving behind stories of teamwork, resilience, and growth.

Junoon 2025 Sports Business Divisions, led entirely by IISM students, reflected a real-world sports ecosystem in action.

The Marketing & PR team acted as the creative voice of the festival, driving awareness and participation through digital campaigns, posters, videos, social media content, and on-ground promotions, while learning how storytelling, consistency, and audience engagement shape a sporting brand.

Branding played a critical role in creating a strong visual identity for Junoon, with students ensuring the cohesive use of themes, colours, and signage across venues. They coordinated installations with Operations and Media, and maintained brand hygiene to enhance recall and atmosphere throughout the event.

Spectator Engagement focused on elevating the fan experience beyond matches, as students designed interactive games, engagement booths, and reward-based activities, encouraged participation, and built an energetic festival vibe.

The Broadcast team handled live coverage responsibilities, managing camera setup and real-time coordination with Media and Operations, gaining hands-on exposure to technical execution and live-event pressure.

Sponsorship students worked on securing and executing brand partnerships, coordinating with Marketing, Media, and Operations to deliver on-ground activations and digital integrations that generated visibility, revenue, and long-term value for partners.

The Operations team formed the backbone of Junoon, translating planning into execution by managing logistics, fixtures, scheduling, equipment, volunteer coordination, accreditation systems, and venue operations, including real-time issue resolution to ensure uninterrupted match flow.

Finance team handled budgeting, approvals, vendor payments, reimbursements, and cost optimisation while supporting venue setup, branding, equipment rentals, and on-ground needs with financial discipline and transparency.

University Coordination & Registration, led by Class Representatives, managed college outreach, registrations, record-keeping, ID verification, and live coordination with Operations to ensure organised participation.

Finally, the Law & Governance Department ensured ethical and professional conduct by drafting SOPs, sports rules, contracts, and dispute-resolution mechanisms, working closely with other departments to uphold compliance, fairness, and accountability, creating a structured framework that now serves as a blueprint for future editions.

Together, these divisions gave students first-hand experience of managing real responsibilities, making decisions under pressure, and delivering a professionally run sports festival from start to finish.

Here’s what our Junoon Committee Members have to say:

“In my first year at IISM, being part of Junoon’s organizing team was an incredible learning experience. From planning to execution, every phase taught me something new. The exposure, friendships, and networking opportunities with seniors and professors were eye-opening and invaluable for future growth.”

– Trusha Chheda (President- Junnon)

It has been a great experience; every department works so well, so hard. I’m grateful that we’ve completed this event with great success.” – Sagnik Bhattacharyya (Vice President)

It would be a life-changing experience for me; Junoon is one word for me. It taught me how to take an instant decision and come up with a better solution.”

–  Shakshi Jain (Vice President)

From ideation and planning to execution under pressure, IISM students experienced first-hand what it takes to run a professionally managed sporting league. Every match played, every decision taken, and every challenge overcome reflected the spirit of learning through responsibility.

What truly set Junoon 2025 apart was the people behind it. Students stepped out of their comfort zones, collaborated across departments, solved real-time problems, and delivered an event that matched industry standards. The festival strengthened not only sporting excellence but also leadership, teamwork, adaptability, and confidence.

As the cheers faded and the venues emptied, Junoon 2025 left behind more than memories. It left a legacy of growth, resilience, and ambition—reinforcing IISM’s commitment to shaping future-ready sports professionals. With lessons learned and standards raised, Junoon continues to stand as a testament to what student-driven vision and structured execution can truly achieve.