R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, JULY 24
HCL Foundation, which drives the corporate social responsibility agenda of global technology company HCLTech in India, hosted the Sports for Change (SFC) National Finals 2024 at Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College, Chennai for three days from Tuesday to Thursday- July 23 to 25.
Excitement is in the air as we kickstart the Sport for Change 6th edition National Finals in Chennai today!
From July 23rd to 25th, watch as talented young athletes from across India showcase their skills and sportspersonship. What started as a vision to uplift underserved… pic.twitter.com/j9n6WqUnQZ
— HCLFoundation (@HCL_Foundation) July 23, 2024
The Sports for Change initiative aims to promote sports as an integral part of holistic education and nurture young talent from underprivileged communities.
- Over 15,000 children from government schools, regular sports programs and communities have participated in the competition this year at various levels
- Out of this, over 800 talented athletes advanced to the National Finals
- As for as Tamil Nadu is concerned, the HCLFoundation has tied up with over 100 schools in Chennai, Coimbatore and Thoothukudi districts for SFC initiative
- The National Finals will feature participants from 12 states and two Union Territories across 40+ districts
Over 15,000 children from government schools, regular sports programs and communities have participated in the competition this year at various levels (District level and State level). Out of this, over 800 talented athletes advanced to the National Finals.
On the sidelines of the inauguration of the National Finals, Dr Nidhi Pundhir, Senior Vice President, Global CSR, HCLTech and Director, HCLFoundation said, “At HCLFoundation, we believe in the transformative power of sports to uplift and empower young minds. The Sports for Change initiative reflects our dedication to nurturing talent from all walks of life, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to excel. As we celebrate the 6th Edition of the National Finals, we are inspired by the determination and spirit of these young athletes, who embody the promise of a brighter future through their passion for sports.”
The young talents from underprivileged communities hailing from remote corners were identified through dedicated HCLFoundation staff around the country for the Sports For Change (SFC) programme and they were nurtured in sports of their interest, she added.
As for as Tamil Nadu is concerned, the HCLFoundation has tied up with over 100 schools in Chennai, Coimbatore and Thoothukudi districts for SFC initiative, Dr Nidhi Pundhir said.
She further said, the athletes supported by HCLFoundation under Sports for Change initiative have brought laurels to the country, not just at national but international level. Raj Kumari won Bronze in Women’s Para Powerlifting at 4th Para Asian Games while Akshaya NS & Divya V were a part of the Rugby team which bagged silver at the Asian Rugby U18 Sevens Championship 2023.
The National Finals will feature participants from 12 states and two Union Territories across 40+ districts. These young athletes have been identified through rigorous training, screening camps and intense qualifiers at district, state and zonal levels.
Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka emerged as champions in the North and South Zone qualifiers, respectively. The National Final will provide a platform for these budding sports champions to showcase their skills and compete for the SFC Champions 2024 title, Dr Pundhir added.
