Sahara to support Indian Boxers and Wrestlers
Sahara will also support infrastructure development of Guru Hanuman Akhara and Bhiwani Boxing Club
New Delhi, February 23rd 2009: Sahara India Pariwar, the largest sports patronizer in India, as a part of its emotional commitment towards the betterment of sports in India, has pledged to support and adopt 30 leading and upcoming Boxers and Wrestlers for the next 4 years. Sahara India Pariwar along with the Indian Boxing Federation and Wrestling Federation of India respectively, has identified top 17 Wrestlers and 13 Boxers who will be provided support beyond the next Olympics to be held in London in 2012. Sahara India Pariwar has also decided to support the well-known Bhiwani Boxing Club and Guru Hanuman Akhara of New Delhi. Sahara’s consistent and long-term assistance in developing standard infrastructure and equipments would surely ensure better results in forthcoming Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympics. In addition to this Sahara India Pariwar will be the title sponsor for the Senior National Boxing Championship for the next 4 years.
The support provided by Sahara is based on the huge potential of these two Olympic disciplines. The support is intended to relieve the athletes of financial worries so as to help them concentrate on the game and perform better. This will help to create role models and in turn enhance the popularity and awareness of these sports leading to more youngsters taking them up, as a profession.
The tie-up of 4 years provides for a graded system of sponsorship payment to each athlete depending upon the performance and achievement which would be reviewed annually by their respective Federations so that noteworthy performance of an athlete in a calendar year gets noticed leading to additional stimulus for the athletes. The Boxers who will receive this support are Shri Vijender Singh, Shri Akhil Kumar, Shri Jitender Kumar, Shri Antharesh Lakra, Shri Dinesh Kumar, Shri Amandeep Singh, Shri Nanao Singh, Shri Narjit Singh, Shri Chhote Lal Yadav, Shri Rakesh Kalaskar, Shri Dilbagh Singh, Shri Balwinder Beniwal and Shri Santhosh Kumar Virothu. The wrestlers are Shri Sushil Kumar, Shri Yogeshwar Dutt, Shri Palwinder Singh Cheema, Shri Rajeev Tomar, Shri Rahul Aware, Shri Vinod Kumar, Shri Hardeep Singh, Shri Amit Kumar, Shri Ramesh Kumar, Shri Mausam Khatri, Shri Joginder Kumar, Shri Hari Krishan, Shri Ravinder Singh, Shri Vikram Sanghwan, Shri Rajbir Chhikara, Shri Manoj Kumar and Shri Dharmender Dalal.
In addition to this, Sahara will build new infrastructure at Bhiwani Boxing Club to create International Standard rings and state-of-the-art Boxing arena along with all adequate facilities for the club, so that the club can continue providing medal prospects and World Beaters. Bhiwani Boxing Club, established in 2003 has earned 104 International medals in boxing including 31 gold medals for the country. The Club has produced 4 Olympians and 3 World Championship winners.
Guru Hanuman Akhara of Delhi, since its establishment in 1928 has given 17 Olympians to the country. Sahara will upgrade the infrastructure of Guru Hanuman Akhara to international standards so that the Wrestlers can get adequate and state-of-the-art facilities for better performance.
On this occasion, Mr. Subrata Roy Sahara, Managing Worker and Chairman, Sahara India Pariwar said, “I believe that Sports represent the most spirited, healthy and energetic facet of a society. The sports of Boxing and Wrestling have tremendous potential in India as we have lots of talent in these sports. These sports and sportsmen need support and encouragement from us. Our support to both the sports is an effort to encourage them to bring glory to our motherland.”
Mr. Abhay Singh Chautala, President, Indian Boxing Federation commented, “I take this opportunity to thank Sahara India Pariwar, specially their Chairman Mr. Subrata Roy Sahara who is the greatest patron of sports, for coming forward and supporting thirteen of our most promising Boxers. I am sure this association would encourage all our boys to perform even better in the forthcoming International tournaments.”
Mr. G.S. Mander, President, Wrestling Federation of India said, “No Corporate House has done as much for Indian sports as SAHARA. It is, therefore, a matter of great satisfaction for Wrestling Federation of India [WFI] that SAHARA has selected a number of prominent Indian wrestlers and offered support to them. Indian wrestlers have been showing marked improvement in performance at international level and the training and development program, now in place, will enable our wrestlers to attain much greater heights in the years to come! . Our association with SAHARA will be of great help in this effort.”
About Sahara India Pariwar
Sahara India Pariwar is a multi-business conglomerate with diversified business interests that include Finance, Real Estate, Media & Entertainment, Tourism & Hospitality, Consumables, and Services & Trading.
