The Ascent Corporate Cup continued its tradition of using sport to promote social inclusion through the Ascent Legacy Match, held before the tournament’s championship fixture.

An annual feature of the corporate futsal tournament, the Legacy Match highlights organisations that use football and community engagement to create opportunities for disadvantaged groups. Previous editions have featured initiatives with JAAGO Foundation, Abinta Foundation, the Bangladesh Wheelchair Cricket Association and the women’s football programme Power of She.

This year’s Legacy Match recognised the work of Thrive Global, a non-profit organisation founded in 2012 to support underprivileged communities, particularly through community schools. The organisation provides nutritious meals to children and works to improve their health, education and overall wellbeing.

Thrive’s activities are currently led by Amna Rahman, Sadia Moyeen, Kanwal Bhagat and a team of volunteers.

The event featured 18 children aged between 9 and 14 from GLP Gabtoli School, accompanied by the school’s principal, Jashu Mia. For many of the children, it was their first experience playing in an international-standard indoor futsal arena.

The children received football boots and team jerseys before being divided into two teams, Thrive Strikers and Thrive Warriors. Instead of names and numbers, each jersey displayed the child’s future career aspiration, including pilot, engineer, doctor, footballer and cricketer, reflecting the event’s emphasis on opportunity and potential.

Managing directors and chief executive officers from participating companies walked onto the court alongside the children before the match, highlighting the tournament’s commitment to community engagement.

The exhibition match ended with Thrive Strikers securing a 2-0 victory, although organisers said the experience and participation were the true highlights of the event.

Following the match, former state minister for foreign affairs Reaz Rahman and Dilaras Quddus, proprietor of Bookworm, presented gold and silver medals to every participant.

The organisers said the Ascent Legacy Match aims to promote inclusion through sport while encouraging the corporate sector to support initiatives that create opportunities for children and strengthen communities.