As part of a press conference on 3 September 2021, the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Prize winner, Lakshya Institute, announced a partnership with Dream Sports Foundation (DSF) to support seven potential Indian athletes across five sports through “One Dream, One Lakshya.”
The collaboration aims to find and support potential Indian Olympians in their quest for glory through professional coaching, financial assistance, training equipment, and exposure to national and international tournaments.
Honorary Secretary Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association, Sunder Iyer and Chief Policy Officer at Dream Sports & Head at Dream Sports Foundation, Kiran Vivekananda, were present during the program’s launch.
About the program (For Indian athletes)
This program ensures end-to-end training to potential athletes, including coaching, training equipment, educational and financial assistance. Five sports, namely; shooting, boxing, table tennis, badminton, and wrestling, have been given importance under this collaboration.
The Chief Policy Officer at Dream sports and Head at Dream Sports Foundation, Kiran Vivekananda, says the pandemic has disrupted potential athletes training.
This collaboration between two nonprofit organizations would ensure that the athletes continue their training and win medals.
Both DSF and Lakshya Institute will work together to prepare for the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games for all the selected athletes as part of this cooperation.
The athletes chosen for the program are Nupur Patil, Devika Ghorpade, Tara Shah, Sreeja Akula, Riya Habu, Nupur Sheoran, and Sunil Kumar.
The excellent support provided through the program will make India’s presence felt on many global stages.
About Lakshya Sports Foundation
Lakshya was founded in 2009 to bridge the gap between the dreams and actualizations of sporting talent in the nation. Lakshya, a professionally managed nonprofit organization, has provided holistic support to more than 80 athletes from eight different sports.
For the players, Lakshya provides world-class coaching to help them improve their performance in their chosen sports.
For all athletes, the player management team monitors their physical and emotional health and their injury management and dietary needs to keep them healthy.
Their players have represented India globally and have made us all proud of their achievements.
Lakshya guarantees that India makes a significant contribution on the international stage to motivate the players to achieve Olympic success.
About Dream Sports Foundation
Dream Sports Foundation aims to develop, strengthen, and provide meaningful impetus to the Indian sports ecosystem through our various verticals.
DSF aims to assist Dream Sports in executing its vision of ‘Make Sports Better’ by creating and supporting activities.
DSF aims to build and manage world-class infrastructure to eliminate access and quality barriers at all levels and bring the sports community together.
DSF realize the potential of sport in our country, which has been unrealized and dormant for far too long, form impactful, valuable, and therefore long-term collaborations with the government and other organizations are a way forward for them.
Dream Sports Foundation teamed with Mary Kom Regional Boxing Foundation (MKRBF) and Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools (BBFS) to provide training, educational, and financial help to bright and rising athletes.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, DSF assisted over 3500 sports industry beneficiaries in the ongoing ‘Back on Track’ project. DSF has reached approximately 6000 sports beneficiaries in India since its start.
Impact of the collaboration For athletes
“In the year where most corporates are withdrawing CSR funds to sports, we are happy that Dream Sports Foundation has come forward to assist Lakshya through the unique program, ‘One Dream, One Lakshya’.
” Swastik Sirsikar, Vice President of Lakshya Foundation, said of the impact of the partnership with the Dream Sports Foundation.
By focusing on the long term, we believe that many more Indian athletes would fulfil their full potential and earn gold for their country at the 2024 and 2028 Olympics.
In the coming years, I’m confident we’ll be able to support many more players through this collaboration.”
