Chennai wins India Stage of SPOGOMI WORLDCUP 23 and will represent India in finals

The SPOGOMI World Cup 2023 India Stage, organized by ViDHAI Recycling and The Nippon
Foundation, took place on July 9th, 2023, at Bessy Beach in India. The event aimed to create clean
and comfortable cities while having fun. The Chennai team won the India Qualifiers with a score of
6500 points, while the second-place team scored 2800 points. Around 400Kg of segregated trash
was picked up in 60 minutes. The winners of the Art Competition on Air Pollution were also awarded
by the Chief Guests.
The event was presided over by the Consul General of Japan, Mr. Masa Yugi Saga, Program Manager
Takayasu Udaawa, and Executive Director Sudhakar, SOLiDPRO. SPOGOMI, a Japanese sport,
transforms litter clean-up into a thrilling competitive event, fostering a sense of responsibility
towards the ocean. The event attracted 50 teams of three individuals per team, with people of
almost all ages participating. The SPOGOMI World Cup provided people from all walks of life with a
chance to actively contribute to the reduction of ocean debris. Divya P Venkat, Founder at ViDHAI
Recycling, believes that participating in the sport raises awareness about littering, ocean
conservation, and the importance of protecting marine life and fragile ecosystems.