Pune, January 22, 2026: The Institute of Sports Science & Technology (ISST), Pune, hosted an inspiring and deeply reflective evening under its flagship initiative “Humans in Sports”, featuring global cricketing legend Mr. Jonty Rhodes, at the Ileseum Club, Bavdhan, the official Venue Partner for the event.
Held on January 16, 2026, the event brought together students, parents, educators, industry professionals, and members of the sports fraternity for a powerful session titled “Life Lessons Through Sports”—a conversation designed to explore mindset, resilience, leadership, and long-term growth through the lens of sport. The evening was gracefully hosted by Mrs. Tanvi Lunawat, Director – Operations, ISST, who steered the programme through its various segments with clarity and purpose.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest fielders the game has seen, Jonty Rhodes shared personal insights from his journey in international cricket, emphasising the importance of teamwork, process-driven growth, and perspective over individual success. Speaking to students and young professionals, he highlighted how sport teaches lessons that extend far beyond performance statistics and scorecards.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Jonty Rhodes said:
“Being part of a team is not about my own performance alone. It’s about how you can keep contributing, supporting others in their progress, and helping people take their game—and their lives—to the next level. Sport also teaches you to focus on the process rather than the outcome. You can do everything right, prepare well, execute perfectly, and still not control the result. But if you trust the process, stay disciplined, and remain consistent, that’s what allows success over a long period of time.”
Addressing the audience, Dr. Vipul Lunawat, Founder Director, ISST, spoke about the philosophy behind the initiative and ISST’s approach to education in sport, stating:
“Success in sports is not linear. Setbacks are not failures—they are feedback. Leadership is not about authority—it is about responsibility. And excellence is not an event—it is a habit.”
He further emphasised that “Life Lessons Through Sports” is not a lecture series, but a dialogue between experience and aspiration—creating learning that prepares students for the realities of the rapidly evolving sports industry.
The evening also included brief reflections on the ISST Sports League 5.0, a student-driven multi-sport league that serves as a practical learning platform for aspiring sports professionals. While the league’s Awards Night recognised sporting excellence across 11 sports disciplines, the primary focus of the event remained on learning, mindset, and human development through sport.
The programme commenced with a ceremonial lamp lighting by the dignitaries, including Mr. Jonty Rhodes, Dr. Vipul Lunawat, Mrs. Ujjwala Lunawat (Chairperson, ISST), and Dr. Pranati Tilak, Vice-President, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth Trust, followed by the official announcement of ISST’s expansion with the launch of its Kharghar, Navi Mumbai campus.
ISST’s expansion into Navi Mumbai is being undertaken with the continued guidance and institutional support of Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth (TMV), whose encouragement and belief in ISST’s vision have played a pivotal role in strengthening its academic foundation and enabling the launch of programmes at the TMV Kharghar campus, marking a significant milestone in ISST’s growth journey.
With the Ileseum Club, Bavdhan, providing an elegant and professional setting as Venue Partner, the event successfully blended inspiration, education, and celebration.
Through initiatives like Humans in Sports, ISST continues to reinforce its commitment to building ethical, reflective, and future-ready sports professionals, firmly positioning sport as one of life’s most powerful teachers—not just of performance, but of character.
