Reliance Foundation athletes set to shine at National Games 2025

Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 28: Over 50 athletes supported by the Reliance Foundation are all set to compete in the 38th edition of the National Games 2025, hosted in Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 14. These athletes will compete across eight key disciplines, including athletics, boxing, badminton, shooting, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, and table tennis, making it one of the biggest contingents representing the Foundation at the Games.
Among the high-profile participants is Tokyo Olympics medalist Lovlina Borgohain, who makes her highly anticipated return to competitive action after her success in Paris. Himanshi Tokas, the rising judo star who recently broke into the junior world’s top 5 rankings, is another athlete to watch, having secured stellar victories at the African Cup in Casablanca.
The athletics contingent is packed with national record holders such as Jyothi Yarraji (100m hurdles), Tejas Shirse (110m hurdles), Manikanta Hoblidhar (100m), Amlan Borgohain (200m), and Rosy Meena Paulraj (pole vault). Emerging stars like Animesh Kujur, DM Jayaram, and Bapi Hansda will also be competing, with several targeting qualification for the Asian Championships later this year.
Other notable athletes include badminton players Anupama Upadhyaya, Unnati Hooda, and Shriyanshi Valishetty, as well as table tennis champion G Sathiyan. In shooting, double Asian Games medalist Palak Gulia and national champion Ashi Chouksey are expected to dominate their respective events.
James Hillier, Athletics Director at Reliance Foundation, said, “The National Games offer a great opportunity for our athletes to start their seasons early, gauge their fitness, and gain momentum. This year is crucial as many of our athletes are targeting the Asian Championships 2025, and the Games provide an excellent chance to aim for qualification.”
Since 2013, Reliance Foundation has impacted over 22 million young people across 13,000 schools and colleges, providing opportunities for talented children to pursue careers in sports. With a focus on women’s sports and grassroots development, Reliance Foundation currently supports over 200 athletes across 10 Olympic sports.