DONE! Kumaran's Heading to Ultimate Worlds

Kumaran Saminathan has played, coached and put his heart into Ultimate for 17 years. He has promoted the sport all over India, for all people, no matter the age, gender, experience, or circumstance.

After all that time, passion and commitment, Kumaran has never qualified for an Ultimate world championship ... until now. He has been selected to represent India in the Masters division at the 2022 world championships in Ireland.

"For me to get a chance like this is very rare and lucky," he says. "I have been waiting and dreaming about this. ... I don't want to miss this chance."

Do you remember the first time you qualified for a world-championship tournament? Missing the opportunity would be unthinkable. So you scrounged for the funds and you made it happen. But our kind of scrounging is nothing like the fund-raising required of players from the poorest countries in the world, where annual income might barely cover the cost of airfare and a few hotel nights.

Kumaran estimates it will cost at least $2,600 -- traveling modestly -- for airfare, (shared) accommodations, local transportation, food and beverage, tournament fees ($280 per person! Plus a team fee) and more. So far, he has raised about $300. Traveling to a world championship is costly for any participant, even those from "rich" countries. But when you consider the median income for Indian households is less than $1,000 per year, world-championship play is not just a hardship ... it is darn near unthinkable.

World-caliber Ultimate should not exclude players from poorer countries. The Spirit of the Game demands we not just INVITE teams from around the world, but actually GET THEM TO THE GAMES. And that means subsidizing otherwise unaffordable trips and fees through private donations. In theory, Ultimate is an inclusive sport, but if we want to include players and teams from poorer countries, we need to welcome them to the world stage with open wallets.

The Ultimate Players Association of India UPAI is growing and diversifying, with dedicated outreach to schools and various underrepresented communities. For example, the organization recently launched the People’s Ultimate League (PUL) to support girls and women of all stripes -- black, indigenous, LGBTQI+, and others on the margin. PUL's vision, according to UPAI, "is to create a sporting league which introduces and invites participation from players who have traditionally been discouraged from sports."

With its "strategic pillar of inclusivity," India Ultimate epitomizes the Spirit of the Game. We are ALL the better for it. What can we do in return? Let the standouts play in our games and continue to inspire their communities back home.

Kumaran is just one standout, but we can start there. And why not? He's "an incredible Ultimate player who exemplifies the Spirit of the Game in all he does," says American pal and international educator Bryan Plymale, who has played with Kumaran since 2007. Bryan recounts several Ultimate honors lavished on Kumaran, from tournament MVP to the "coveted" Cheese Basket Award for his team.

The biggest prize in Kumaran's career, though, is representing India at Worlds. He asks for help to "make my dream come true after many years of playing Ultimate."

Feel free to contribute more than the requested amount. Surplus funds will go to Kumaran's teammates on the India Masters team, all of whom require financial support to make the trip. We can make their dreams happen ... or dash them.

Any amount would be helpful to Kumaran and his cohorts. Consider donating one hotel night in shared accommodations, estimated at Euro 50 (approx. $57).

Kumaran invites (would-be) supporters to contact him at

[email redacted].in

Facebook: Kumaran C Pondicherry