Gurugram: Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), in partnership with GoSports Foundation, has opened applications for the 2026–27 cycle of the Samarth Para Sports Programme, a high-performance athlete support initiative aimed at empowering Para athletes across India.
Applications for the new cycle opened on June 19 and will remain available until June 30, 2026. The programme will accept entries from athletes competing in Para Archery, Para Athletics, Para Badminton and Para Canoe.
Launched under the ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ initiative, the programme is entering its third year and continues to focus on long-term, structured support for Indian Para athletes. The initiative provides comprehensive assistance through a personalised athlete-support framework designed to aid high-performance development — the sporting equivalent of having a strong pit crew, only with fewer tyre changes and more medals.
Since its inception, the Samarth Para Sports Programme has supported athletes across Para Athletics, Para Badminton, Para Swimming, Para Archery, Wheelchair Tennis and Para Canoe. According to the organisers, the programme has contributed to athlete development, performance excellence and measurable impact within India’s Para sports ecosystem.
Sharing his views on the Programme, Tarun Garg, Managing Director & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Limited, said, “Through the Samarth Para Sports Programme, we are committed to building a stronger and more inclusive sporting ecosystem for Para athletes in India. 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.”
Saugato Banerjee, CEO, GoSports Foundation, said, “We, at GoSports Foundation, have always believed that Para athletes in India deserve access to the same level of structured, high-performance support available to elite athletes globally. Through the Samarth Para Sports Programme launched in 2023, 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 believing in this vision and for helping us create meaningful opportunities for Para athletes across the country.”
The programme has reported notable results in its first two years. Four athletes supported by the Samarth Para Sports Programme represented India at the Paralympics in 2024, marking a significant milestone for the initiative.
Since the launch of the programme, Samarth athletes have collectively won 114 medals, including 52 gold, 26 silver and 36 bronze medals. These include 48 national medals and 66 international medals, reflecting the programme’s growing role in India’s Para sports ecosystem.
Among the supported athletes, Bhavik Bharwad, a Para track and field athlete, secured multiple international gold medals and recorded a personal best of 48.95 seconds in the 400m. Sakshi Kasana, who competes in F55 Discus Throw and Javelin Throw, won gold at the WPA New Delhi Grand Prix, reached the finals at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships and also competed at the Paralympics in 2024.
Yash Kumar became the first Indian male Para canoeist to compete at the Paralympics and was honoured with the Laxman Award in 2025. Palak Kohli received the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, Punjab’s highest state honour, while Rachana Patel received a nomination for the Eklavya Award in 2026.
For the 2026–27 cycle, applicants must hold a valid National Paralympic Committee classification, be above 16 years of age, be Indian residents, and have at least one top-three finish in the last three National Championships since 2023. The programme is open to both male and female athletes.
With India’s Para sports movement gaining greater visibility on national and international platforms, the latest cycle of the Samarth Para Sports Programme aims to identify and support the next generation of athletes. For many emerging competitors, such structured backing can be the difference between promise and podium — and in Indian sport, that is a gap worth closing.
