Indian billionaire industrialist and philanthropist Gautam Adani has long been a devoted supporter of Indian sports and athletes. He has publicly expressed his conviction in the ability of sports to inspire and unify the country through his Adani Group, in addition to sponsoring several athletes and sporting events.
Gautam Adani is frequently spotted supporting Indian players at sporting events. He also uses social media to share his satisfaction with athletes’ achievements and to congratulate them on their successes. The acknowledgement they receive from a well-known person inspires athletes to aim even higher.
Adani has made statements regarding the value of sports in cultivating fundamental life attributes, including self-control, collaboration, and initiative. He encourages youth to take up sports and make a career out of it. This dispels the myth that careers in sports are unattainable in India.
Gautam Adani Praises the Chess Champ Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa
Gautam Adani, the Chairman of Adani Group, met Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, a rising star in the chess game, on Friday (5th Jan’ 24). The billionaire supported the chess champion by taking to X and sharing pictures of their meeting. ‘It’s an honour to support Praggnanandhaa as he continues to gain accolades in the game of chess and make India proud. Many young Indians are inspired by his accomplishment to think that there is nothing more fulfilling than taking the podium to acknowledge the greatness of our country. Praggnanandhaa is a symbol of India’s potential and destiny. I hope the best for him. Salutations, Jai Hind’, Adani said on X.
In 2023, Praggnanandhaa made history by being the youngest chess player in the world to advance to the World Cup final, emulating Viswanathan Anand of India. The quiet and reserved adolescent from Chennai caused a stir in the chess world in 2022 when he defeated Magnus Carlsen several times, highlighting the country’s achievements in the game. In 2023, Praggnanandhaa won the silver medal in the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Praggnanadhaa became the second-youngest grandmaster in the world and the youngest in India at the age of twelve. He is the fifth-youngest person to become a grandmaster, following the footsteps of Abhimanyu Mishra, Gukesh D, Sergey Karjakin, and Javokhir Sindarov. Moreover, his elder sister, R. Vaishali, is also a grandmaster, making the siblings the first brother-sister Grandmaster team in history.
The Adani Group has supported 28 talented athletes in various sports, including boxing, wrestling, tennis, javelin throw, shooting, jogging, shot put, brisk walking, and archery, under its signature #GarvHai project. Amit Panghal, a boxer, and wrestling gold medalists Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Deepak Punia are among the notable beneficiaries. Dahiya and Punia also won silver medals at the 2023 Asian Games and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
About the #GarvHai initiative
The national initiative of Gautam Adani’s Adani Group, #GarvHai, intends to nurture the future generation of Indian athletes and assist them in their quest to represent their country in national and international competitions like the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. Applications from athletes, coaches, sports academies, and other stakeholders in various sports were accepted for the initiative starting in 2016.
#GarvHai began as a grassroots initiative in 2016 and has since grown into a nationwide initiative to find and develop athletes throughout India. Over 28 gifted athletes in boxing, wrestling, tennis, javelin throw, shooting, jogging, shotput, brisk walking, archery, and more have received assistance from #GarvHai since the 2016 Rio Olympics.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, India was represented by six of the 19 athletes sponsored by #GarvHai. These include, among others, boxer Amit Panghal, wrestlers Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Deepak Punia, and captain of the Indian women’s hockey team Rani Rampal. At the Tokyo Olympics, Ravi Dahiya—sponsored by the Adani Group since 2019—won a silver medal in the 57 kg division.
Adani Sportsline is Team India’s main sponsor for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, 2023 Asian Games, and 2024 Paris Olympics. Wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya, boxer Amit Panghal, and wrestler Deepak Punia, among other #GarvHai competitors, won three gold medals for their nation in Birmingham during the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Conclusion
The quick ascent of Praggnanandhaa in the chess world is a testament to the extraordinary potential of young Indian players. His accomplishments go beyond personal fulfilment; they encourage others to aim high and add to the country’s pride. In addition to acknowledging Praggnanandhaa’s commitment, Adani’s sponsorship of the #GarvHai campaign also exemplifies the critical role that corporate funding plays in developing future champions. With sustained efforts such as these, India’s sports scene looks to have even more promising futures.
The #GarvHai campaign demonstrates Gautam Adani’s commitment to strengthening India’s sports ecosystem and goes beyond the actions of individual athletes like Praggnanandhaa. By identifying and encouraging different talents in various talents, #GarvHai enables players to pursue their passions and honour the country. Ohonourc gold and Commonwealth Games victories are proof of the initiative’s effectiveness. With the Olympics in Paris just around the corner, # GarvHai’s unwavering dedication may uncover and raise the next wave of sports superstars in India.
