Authored by: Akshay Kommineni, Sports Youth Development Leader
One guy’s quiet dedication is a beacon of compassion and resilience in the bustling city of Hyderabad, where life hums with strength. Azhar Maqsusi, the founder of the Sani Welfare Foundation, has made it his life’s mission to eliminate hunger, one meal at a time.
His journey isn’t simply inspiring—it’s transformational, and it inspired me as a 12 year old!
From Hunger to Humanity: Azhar Maqsusi’s Unshakable Commitment
Azhar Bhai’s story is deeply rooted in empathy, shaped by his own experiences of hardship. After losing his father at the age of four, he faced days when food was a luxury his family couldn’t afford. These struggles formed the foundation of his life’s purpose.
One pivotal moment defined his mission: a chance encounter with a handicapped female named Laxmi under a bridge. Her plea was simple but heartbreaking—she wanted food, not cash. That moment revealed to Azhar the strength of giving, sparking his initiative to feed the hungry.
From that day forward, Azhar Bhai has fed limitless individuals, turning his vision into a fact. Operating across six towns in India, he dedicates each waking moment to making sure nobody goes to bed hungry. His work has inspired millions, including me, to join him in building bridges to bring people together and contribute to making the world a better place.
A Life-Changing Encounter at the Tender Age of 12
My first meeting with Azhar Bhai was nothing short of life-changing. At 12, I discovered myself standing in awe of his relentless efforts. Every day, for more than 200 days straight, he had been feeding hundreds of hungry souls. Just watching him serve without expectation or fatigue struck a chord in me.
In that moment, I realized some crucial truths: first, how lucky I am, and second, how much power lies in even the smallest act of giving. During our communication, I learned that Azhar bhai also shared a love for sports activities. His son, a talented cricket player, exemplified this passion. Azhar Bhai advocated for me to channel my energy into tennis and explore ways to make a difference through the game I loved.
“Build a bridge using tennis and help those in need, across the world.” That advice landed in my heart and spurred me to take action.
Turning Tennis into a Catalyst for Change
Guided by Azhar Bhai’s advice, I started leveraging tennis to build a bridge between the tennis community in the US and those in need across the world. What began as a simple idea became a series of tasks aimed at finding organizations that were solving big problems, developing partnerships with them, and building bridges to the communities in need. Through the years, these efforts have blossomed into a platform for hope. These partnerships include organisations like Special Olympics – helping kids with special needs via sport, North Texas Food Bank – solving the hunger problem in Texas, UNICEF (specifically helping kids in conflict regions), and others.
Milestones That Matter
- 2020: Hosted my first charity tennis tournament, marking the start of this journey.
- 2021: Organized tournaments and tennis coaching camps to engage youth and raise awareness and funds.
- 2022–2024: Expanded with annual tournaments and camps, building a tradition of giving through tennis.
These events weren’t just about competitions; they became effective avenues to raise awareness for the causes of these organizations, recruit participants, and inspire communities to take definitive action to make a difference. Ultimately, these activities became the bridge between my passion for tennis, the US Texas Tennis community, and the philanthropic work of these organizations in helping people in need.
I partnered with the Special Olympics for multiple tournaments and coaching camps and raised about $10K that was used to fund coaching programs for several disadvantaged athletes. I have also been mentoring and coaching tennis teams since 2 years now, and intend to continue this noble work for times to come!
Behind the Scenes: How We Made It Happen
Executing these events required more than passion— planning, partnerships, and perseverance. Key activities included:
- Building Awareness: Sharing the organisations’ unique and inspiring stories with the tennis community.
- Securing Support: Partnering with local clubs and recruiting athletes.
- Fundraising: Reaching out to networks for contributions.
- Marketing: Managing social media platforms to amplify the causes and inspire action.
- Financial Oversight: Ensuring transparency in accounts and reporting.
Impact: The Power of Collective Action
The results of these efforts speak volumes about the potential of sports to create change:
- Support provided to 5000-plus people via these organizations mentioned above
- A significant rise in social media engagement, support and patronage for these organisations
But the real impact goes beyond numbers—it’s about the community we’ve built and the lives we’ve touched.
Lessons from the Court
This adventure has been as challenging and worthwhile as a high-stakes tennis match. It has taught me that the actual strength of sports lies not in competition but in connection. Whether organising tournaments or spreading these organisations’ messages, every step has strengthened my belief in the power of collective effort.
It is living proof that bridges can be built between two seemingly unconnected sources – in this case, Tennis and the noble vision of feeding the hungry.
Looking Ahead: A Legacy of Giving
Reflecting on this journey, I’m filled with gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose. The path forward is clear: Scale the impact of the bridge that we have built, expand the reach of those projects, build stronger partnerships, and leverage the sport of tennis as a powerful tool for change.
Collectively, we are able to flip every rally into a rallying cry for hope.
To all those reading this, remember:
The world needs bridge builders, and each of us can do it. All we need is a single step and a mighty will.
Your contribution matters.
Let’s create a world where bridges are built to extend the hand of help to those in need through the power of art, sports and passion.
About Akshay Kommineni
Akshay is a rising junior at Centennial High School in Frisco, Texas. He is a 3-time state champion in Texas (UIL High Schools). Akshay is combining his love for tennis with a yearning to make the world a better place. Akshay has hooked himself as a leader on and off court. As a leader of sports youth development, Akhsay raises funds and awareness through creative marketing. He also coaches and mentors talented kids who are in need of resources, as well as several upcoming athletes. He has organised several tennis tournaments to generate awareness and support for the causes he supports.