How Do You Train For A Trash-Picking World Cup? Inside India's Quest To Win Spogomi World Cup

On a sweltering Sunday morning in Chennai, as tourists swarm Besant Nagar beach leaving behind a trail of plastic bottles and food wrappers, Sharun A. and his teammates huddle over garbage bags, practising their waste segregation drills. It is the methodical rhythm of sorting trash against the clock—cigarette butts in one pile, plastics in another—preparing for a competition most Indians have never heard of.

In a world where environmental activism often feels like an exercise in guilt and sacrifice, a different kind of movement is taking shape. A movement measured not by solemn pledges but by stamina, strategy, and a reimagining of what meaningful action looks like.

It was during the pandemic years that Spogomi, a Japanese litter-picking sport, began gaining global momentum as an unexpected antidote to environmental apathy.

Unlike conventional environmental campaigns with their solemn appeals and virtue signalling, Spogomi operates on a different premise entirely. It transforms waste collection into a competitive sport, complete with referees, rulebooks, point systems, and the intoxicating possibility of victory.

Across the country, from Chennai's Marina Beach to Bengaluru's Kempambudhi Lake, this small but growing movement suggests a tantalising proposition: that environmental action need not be framed as sacrifice or duty, but as something more primal, competition, camaraderie, and the simple thrill of winning.

The making of an unlikely athlete

Manivannan took to surfing when he was nine years old, when Kovalam beach was still pristine. Over the years, plastics and bottles have overrun the shore, and he now spends time cleaning a half-kilometre stretch before catching his morning waves. The trash bins placed on the beach have long disappeared, and there is no proper management system for the garbage deposited daily by swarms of tourists.

When he met Sharun during surfing classes at a centre where he works, he learned about Spogomi, which seemed like a natural extension of what he was already doing. "Waste picking interests me because I've seen first-hand how plastic and garbage have changed the beaches I grew up on," he says quietly. "Surfing taught me to respect the ocean, and cleaning the beach before I surf has become second nature."

Similar sentiments are echoed by Abishek K. V., a powerlifter who trains in the same circle as Sharun. "What interests me in waste picking is the fact that you're doing something meaningful for the environment while also pushing yourself physically," he remarks. Beyond his powerlifting regimen, Abishek also trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which builds focus and endurance.

"This piqued my interest as it was a socially and environmentally responsible unique sport," Amrit recalls. "The environment and nature are always close to our hearts. It was to be held on a Sunday morning, so we were all set to clean up the Besant Nagar beach."

What made it especially enticing was the competitive element and the chance to represent India in Japan. Amrit and Sharun teamed up with Madhusudan Radha Thanikasalam to form Chennai Super Klean and began preparing methodically.

"We as a team started preparing by cycling and swimming to build our stamina," Amrit explains. "We started cleaning our street and a lake near our house. Each time we cleaned, we timed ourselves and also practised segregating waste."

Understanding the game

The sport originated in Japan during the early 2000s as a creative response to the overuse of single-use plastics. The name combines "spo" from "sport" and "gomi", the Japanese word for trash. While discussions about organising a World Cup began around 2018, the pandemic delayed the inaugural tournament until 2023.

One significant advantage Spogomi possesses over conventional environmental initiatives is its clear structure. Teams of three must stay within a designated area, typically covering up to two kilometres from a central starting point. Teams must walk, staying within ten metres of each other. Each team is accompanied by a trained referee who ensures compliance with the rulebook.

Participants have one hour to collect litter, followed by a separate 20-minute period for segregation. Different types of waste carry different point values, with plastic bottles scoring particularly high at 25 points per 100 grams. However, accuracy matters enormously, as incorrect segregation results in a 75-point penalty.

The United Kingdom emerged as the winner in the first World Cup in 2023, where 21 teams took part. India ranked sixth.

"In 2023, the game was new to most teams, and as such there was no written strategy, like in other sports," Sharun reflects. "To be very honest it was slightly luck based as well, as it is very difficult to find waste in Japan."

There is always this home advantage for Japan, as locals who live there know where specific types of waste can be found. Despite this inherent disadvantage, India performed respectably. "In the first half team India was placed third," Sharun notes. Their second-half strategy focused on cigarette butts, a calculated gamble that worked initially but faltered when they found themselves at private parking lots where entry was barred, a fact they discovered too late to pivot.

The question of accessibility

The competition in India presented its own distinct challenges. The city-level qualifier took place at Kempambudhi Lake in Bengaluru in May 2025, drawing about 100 participants forming 20 teams. The national final was held at Marina Beach in Chennai during peak summer.

"In India it was more tedious for us because of the harsher climate," Sharun observes. "It was extremely hot at the beach which proved to be a lot more strenuous as we had to traverse through everything there."

The gruelling temperatures took a toll on all participants. Abishek, despite his endurance training, found the conditions unforgiving. "To be honest, I am a sucker for endurance sports, but the heat was unforgiving and my legs gave way at times," he admits. Teams had to carry heavy bags of garbage while maintaining the mandatory proximity to teammates, a physical test compounded by environmental stress.

The experience highlighted the infrastructural disparities that characterise much of India's environmental landscape. At Kovalam, where Manivannan trains, proper waste management is conspicuously absent. Beach clean-ups in Chennai revealed the same pattern: alcohol bottles and plastic wrappers piling up where bins were missing or insufficient.

Contrast this with the conditions in Japan, where teams received specialised equipment including tools to grab litter and sponges for more efficient collection. "These additions were pretty unique," notes Amrit. "However, as the place was new to us, navigating proved to be a challenge, even though we were allowed to use our phones to do so."

Yet these differences, between Japan’s systematic infrastructure and India’s gaps, illuminated the sport’s deeper purpose.

The larger ambition

Nikhil Ravikumar, Chief Organiser of the Spogomi World Cup India Qualifiers, speaks with the conviction of someone who has seen both the limitations and possibilities of environmental activism.

"It's a sport that originated in Japan as a response to the overuse of single use plastics in an effort to raise awareness about marine conservation," he explains. "The goal of the sport is to recontextualise city cleanup as a fun activity rather than a chore, and bring awareness about segregation and types of waste."

The sport has expanded significantly since the first World Cup, with this year's edition featuring 40 major countries. In India, the qualifiers have grown from a single event in Chennai to include Bengaluru, with ambitions for further expansion.

"It is my belief that the primary benefit of Spogomi is that it makes people enjoy themselves while participating in an environmental activity," Ravikumar emphasises. "I believe the psychological aspect of thinking of sustainability as a sport cannot be understated."

Working in waste management and social impact at Villgro, Sharun has seen patterns statistics cannot capture.

The Japan question

The comparison with Japan is inevitable, and perhaps instructive. When asked about the differences, Sharun's response is measured but pointed.

"They have better infrastructure, they have brought about systematic change using the said infrastructure, and they have a great sense of discipline," he observes. "And perhaps more realistically, it's a factor of socio-economics. When we take a bird's eye view, whatever happens to be the more important priority for the nation is what it works on first, and waste management has historically featured low on the list. However, this phenomenon is changing."

Amrit frames it differently, focusing on cultural attitudes. "The Japanese don't distinguish waste as mine and others. If they encounter any waste regardless of who produced it, they make it a point to pick it up and dispose it off appropriately. They approach waste management with a sense of responsibility, duty towards the nation and the society they inhabit."

These observations, made by young Indians who have competed internationally, reveal something beyond admiration for Japanese efficiency. They suggest a dawning awareness that environmental action requires not just policy or infrastructure, but a fundamental shift in how communities understand their relationship to shared spaces.

The road ahead

This year's team reflects a refined approach to competition. Manivannan brings experience as a lifeguard and fisherman, accustomed to working in harsh weather while carrying heavy loads. "Surfing itself is my biggest training, it builds stamina, balance, and resilience," he says. "Beach clean-ups and lifeguard work have trained me in carrying heavy loads and working in tough conditions."

While Amrit suffered an ankle injury that prevents him from competing this year, his role has evolved. "Sadly, and unfortunately, I suffered from an ankle injury this time and couldn't take part in the regional finals," he acknowledges. "However, I would love to accompany the team as a strategist and supervisor because I know how to strategise and maximise our chances to win the Spogomi World Cup. I have studied where the other teams went the last time and what kinds of litter they focused on to garner more points."

The team's ambitions are unambiguous. "Personally, I want to bring pride to the beaches and communities I come from," Manivannan states. "As a team, we're aiming for nothing less than the top spot. India ranked sixth last time, and we're confident that with the right teamwork and strategy, we can improve on that performance."