Samarth Para Sports Programme Opens Applications for 2026-27
Hyundai Motor India Foundation and GoSports Foundation have officially opened applications for the 2026-27 edition of the Samarth Para Sports Programme, offering Indian para athletes high-performance resources, financial backing, and long-term development to excel at elite national and international competitions.
Key Highlights
- Applications are open from 19 June to 30 June for archery, athletics, badminton, and canoeing.
- Supported athletes have collectively secured 114 medals since the scheme launched in 2023.
- Four funded athletes successfully represented India at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
- Eligible applicants must be aged above 16 and hold a top-three national finish since 2023.
The initiative, which is now entering its third consecutive year, focuses on reinforcing the para sports infrastructure across India by delivering extended athletic support, specialized training assets, and customized growth plans.
Conducted from 19 June to 30 June, the application window invites para athletes specializing in para archery, para athletics, para badminton, and para canoe to secure elite-tier developmental interventions.
Since originating in 2023, the initiative has established itself as an essential pillar for identifying and cultivating domestic para sporting capabilities.
Through its tailored assistance model, participants have secured critical funding covering competition logistics, tournament travel, technical training, and modern sports science operations designed to accelerate their development cycles.
Demonstrating the initiative’s profound influence, four sponsored athletes earned selection to represent India at the 2024 Paralympic Games, marking a major validation for the framework within just two years of operation.
Overall, athletes operating under the programme’s umbrella have accumulated 114 podium finishes, comprising 52 gold, 26 silver, and 36 bronze medals.
Among these achievements, 48 medals were earned at domestic championship levels, while 66 were clinched at international opens, underscoring the programme’s widening footprint in global sports.
Among the standout portfolio competitors is Bhavik Bharwad, who claimed multiple global gold honors alongside setting a personal milestone of 48.95 seconds in the 400m running division.
Sakshi Kasana similarly clinched a gold medal at the WPA New Delhi Grand Prix, advanced directly into the finals at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, and represented the nation at the Paralympics.
The system has additionally empowered historic milestones, such as supporting Yash Kumar, who made history as the initial Indian male para canoeist to qualify for the Paralympics before receiving the Laxman Award in 2025.
Simultaneously, Palak Kohli was recognized with Punjabβs elite Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award, and Rachana Patel secured a nomination for the Eklavya Award in 2026.
Discussing the new cycle, Hyundai Motor India Limited Managing Director and CEO Tarun Garg emphasized that the enterprise maintains an active commitment toward fostering an inclusive and advanced training ecosystem for para competitors.
Garg stated that the rapid international achievements and progression demonstrated by the supported athletes over the preceding two years validate the strength of structured, long-term athletic funding. As the program initiates its third annual cycle, the primary focus remains on producing future medalists and elevating the domestic para sports landscape.
Sharing this perspective, GoSports Foundation CEO Saugato Banerjee stated that Indian para sports figures deserve access to the identical elite training systems and performance resources accessible to international sports personnel.
Banerjee added that through the Samarth Para Sports Programme, specialized athletic interventions and athlete-first ecosystems have systematically enhanced performance metrics, competitive self-belief, and individual careers. He credited the Hyundai Motor India Foundation for championing this long-term collaborative vision.
To qualify for the upcoming intake, candidates must be citizens of India aged above 16 years, maintain an official national classification from the National Paralympic Committee, and hold a minimum of one top-three placement at national championships since 2023.
As India’s broader para sports sector undergoes rapid acceleration, the Samarth Para Sports Programme aims to uncover and cultivate the next wave of high-potential competitors capable of translating raw talent into international hardware.
Future Outlook
As the Samarth Para Sports Programme advances into its third year, organizers aim to expand India’s tracking systems for incoming talent ahead of major global cycles. By establishing stricter benchmarks and expanding institutional infrastructure, the alliance intends to systematically scale up corporate sports philanthropy, creating an uninterrupted pathway for domestic para athletes to transition efficiently from national trials directly onto international podiums.
FAQs
What is the deadline to apply for the Samarth Para Sports Programme 2026-27?
Applications for the upcoming intake cycle open on 19 June and will officially close on 30 June. Eligible para athletes must submit their requests within this window.
Which sporting disciplines are covered under the programme?
The initiative specifically targets and reviews applications from para athletes competing across four main sporting disciplines: para archery, para athletics, para badminton, and para canoe.
What are the main eligibility criteria for applicants?
Candidates must be Indian residents aged over 16 years. They must possess a valid classification from the National Paralympic Committee and have achieved at least one top-three finish in a national championship held since 2023.
How many medals have program-backed athletes won?
Athletes supported by the framework have secured a total of 114 medals, which includes 52 gold, 26 silver, and 36 bronze medals across both domestic and international events.
