Hyundai and GoSports open applications for third Samarth Para Sports cycle

GURUGRAM: Para athletes with big dreams have another shot at high-performance support, as Hyundai Motor India Foundation and GoSports Foundation have opened applications for the 2026-27 edition of the Samarth Para Sports Programme.

Now entering its third year, the initiative aims to strengthen India’s para sports ecosystem by providing long-term athlete support, performance resources and tailored development programmes. Applications are open from 19 June to 30 June for athletes competing in para archery, para athletics, para badminton and para canoe.

Since its launch in 2023, the programme has emerged as a significant platform for nurturing para sporting talent. Through a personalised support framework, athletes have received assistance across training, competition exposure, performance planning and high-performance interventions designed to accelerate their growth on the national and international stage.

Highlighting the programme’s impact, four supported athletes represented India at the 2024 Paralympic Games, a milestone achievement within just two years of the initiative’s launch.

Collectively, athletes backed by the programme have won 114 medals so far, including 52 gold, 26 silver and 36 bronze medals. Of these, 48 medals came at national competitions, while 66 were secured at international events, underlining the programme’s growing contribution to India’s para sports success story.

Among the standout performers is Bhavik Bharwad, who captured multiple international gold medals and recorded a personal best of 48.95 seconds in the 400m event. Sakshi Kasana secured gold at the WPA New Delhi Grand Prix, reached the finals of the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships and also competed at the Paralympics.

The programme has also supported trailblazers such as Yash Kumar, who became the first Indian male para canoeist to compete at the Paralympics and later received the Laxman Award in 2025. Meanwhile, Palak Kohli was honoured with Punjab’s prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, while Rachana Patel earned a nomination for the Eklavya Award in 2026.

Speaking about the initiative, Hyundai Motor India Limited managing director and CEO Tarun Garg said the company remains committed to creating a stronger and more inclusive sporting ecosystem for para athletes.

“The encouraging progress and international achievements of supported athletes over the last two years have further reinforced the impact of sustained and long-term support. As we enter the third year of the programme, our focus remains on nurturing future champions and contributing meaningfully to India’s growing para sports movement,” he said.

Echoing the sentiment, GoSports Foundation CEO Saugato Banerjee said para athletes in India deserve access to the same structured, high-performance systems available to elite athletes globally.

“Through the Samarth Para Sports Programme, we have seen the positive impact of timely interventions and athlete-centric support systems on performance, confidence and long-term development. We are grateful to Hyundai Motor India Foundation for supporting this vision and helping create meaningful opportunities for para athletes across the country,” he added.

For the upcoming cycle, applicants must be Indian residents aged above 16 years, possess a valid national classification from the National Paralympic Committee, and have secured at least one top-three finish in the last three national championships since 2023.

As India’s para sports movement gathers pace, the Samarth Para Sports Programme is looking to discover and support the next generation of athletes ready to turn potential into podium finishes.