The 38th National Games, scheduled from January 28 to February 14 in Uttarakhand, will feature over 50 Reliance Foundation athletes competing in eight disciplines: athletics, boxing, badminton, shooting, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, and table tennis. The event promises thrilling performances from some of India’s top talents.
Tokyo Medalist Lovlina Borgohain Headlines
Tokyo Olympics medalist Lovlina Borgohain will make her competitive return following the Paris Olympics. She’ll be joined by rising judo star Himanshi Tokas, who recently broke into the junior world’s top 5 rankings after her success at the African Cup in Casablanca.
Star Athletes in Athletics
The athletics lineup boasts several national record holders, including Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles), Tejas Shirse (110m hurdles), Manikanta Hoblidhar (100m), Amlan Borgohain (200m), and Rosy Meena Paulraj (pole vault). Emerging athletes like Animesh Kujur, DM Jayaram, Bapi Hansda, and Sakshi Chavan will aim to carry forward their junior-level achievements.
James Hillier, Athletics Director at Reliance Foundation, shared his excitement: “The National Games are an excellent opportunity for our athletes to start the season early and evaluate their training and fitness. This competition, held outside India’s traditional athletics season, is vital for gaining momentum. With most of our athletes targeting the Asian Championships in 2025, this event provides an excellent chance to breach the qualification mark.”
Jyothi Yarraji and Tejas Shirse Shine
Both Jyothi and Tejas enter the games in top form, having recently broken indoor national records in the 60m hurdles. Jyothi’s achievements are further highlighted by her Arjuna Award recognition this year.
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Other Sporting Stars to Watch
In badminton, players like Anupama Upadhyaya, Unnati Hooda, and Shriyanshi Valishetty are strong contenders for the women’s singles title. Table tennis veteran G Sathiyan will compete in the men’s singles event.
Shooting stars include double Asian Games medalist Palak Gulia (10m air pistol) and reigning national champion Ashi Chouksey (10m air rifle and 50m rifle 3 positions). Ashi began the year on a high, clinching the national championship title.
With a mix of experienced athletes and promising newcomers, Reliance Foundation athletes are set to leave a lasting impact at the National Games, signaling a year of sporting excellence.
About Reliance Foundation Youth Sports
Since 2013, Reliance Foundation’s sports initiatives have reached over 22 million young people across India, spanning 13,000 schools and colleges. The foundation is dedicated to promoting the success of girls and women athletes and designs programs to maximize opportunities for them. Supporting over 200 athletes in 10+ Olympic sports, it operates three world-class athletics training facilities and collaborates with organizations like the IOC, IOA, AFI, and the Odisha government.
The foundation also runs the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) football academy, the country’s top-rated academy, with many graduates now playing for ISL clubs. Its grassroots efforts include Reliance Foundation Youth Sports, RFYC Naupang League, and the Reliance Foundation Development League, all aimed at building India’s sporting ecosystem.
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