The HCLFoundation on Tuesday brought together a group of para athletes to celebrate their success by presenting them with scholarships and equipment at a function organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
The HCLFoundation additionally announced an initiative to support elite and budding Indian para-athletes as part of its ‘Sports for Change’ initiative.
Addressing the “stars of the future,” Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, HCLFoundation Director, said, “Over the past few years, Indian para-athletes have excelled in the global sporting arenas and have made India proud. We are delighted to support their endeavour through our ‘Sports for Change’ initiative, which has been a catalyst for transformation. We will continue to supercharge progress for the athletes and the community at large through our programs.”
HCLFoundation’s ‘Sports for Change’ initiative has been empowering young athletes from diverse and underserved backgrounds to pursue sports as a means of personal and professional transformation. The latest initiative, facilitated with the support of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), aims to enhance the preparations of top para-athletes for international competitions.
Welcoming the athletes, PCI president and much-decorated athlete Devendra Jhajaria said, “India’s para-athletes have shown extraordinary talent and determination, and with proper support, they can achieve even greater success internationally. Organisations like HCLFoundation play a crucial role in creating a stronger ecosystem for para sports that provides athletes with the equipment, training, and nutrition they need to excel. Such initiatives not only uplift our athletes but also strengthen the spirit of inclusion and pride in Indian sports. I am so proud of my para colleagues, and I know their status will grow hugely in the times to come.”
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Jhajaria discussed the progress made by India in para sports and recalled the times when he had to travel to the 2004 Paralympics on his own. “I won a gold, and that changed the perspective of the people towards para athletes. I feel delighted at the support that the para athletes have been receiving for the past few years,” he said.
Also present was the PCI secretary general, Jayawant GH. “Our athletes have shown remarkable progress since the Paralympics in Tokyo (2021) and Paris (2024). We are aiming for bigger success in the next international cycle,” he said.
A total of 14 elite para athletes received sports equipment worth ₹37 lakh. The list of recipients includes Sandip Sargar (gold in Javelin at the WPA Grand Prix for three consecutive years, 2022-24), Gayathri HM (silver at the 2024 World Boccia Challenger in Cairo), Kasthuri Rajamani (bronze at the 2024 Para Powerlifting World Cup in Pattaya), Pradeep Kumar (silver in Javelin at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games, bronze in the 2023 Marrakech Grand Prix), Amisha Rawat (bronze in Javelin at the 2023 WPA Grand Prix in Nottwil, Switzerland), and Bhagyashree Madhavrao Jadav (silver in Shot Put at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games).
In addition, six budding para-athletes supported by HCLFoundation’s ‘Sports for Change’ initiative were awarded scholarships ranging from ₹1 to 5 lakh each, based on individual requirements. Over 64,000 athletes have been reached through the programme to date, out of which 25 para athletes have represented India internationally. “The HCLFoundation has so far deployed close to ₹80 crore under the Sports for Change initiative,” Dr. Pundhir informed.
Published on Nov 18, 2025