Anukool Bharadwaj, currently heading the para sports wing at Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), vividly remembers the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. And no, it isn’t just because of the twin world-record throws by javelin superstars Sandeep Chaudhary (F44) and Sumit Antil (F64) on November 8.
High jumper Nishad Kumar (T47), now a double Paralympic silver medallist, was an unheralded figure back then. He had made the cut for the showpiece event in the City of Gold, but didn’t meet the set criteria for the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) to cover the expenses of his trip. Unable to afford the cost of participation himself, Nishad knocked on the doors of OGQ, who were quick to act.
“OGQ funded his entire trip. If that hadn’t happened, an important moment in Nishad’s career wouldn’t have come through,” says a proud Anukool.
Nishad repaid the favour on November 13 by not only bagging a bronze medal and recording his personal best (2.00m) but also securing a berth at the Tokyo Paralympics.
As clichéd as it may sound, the rest, as they say, is history. He went on to win silver in the Japanese capital, gold at the Hangzhou Para Asian Games in 2022, before finishing second once again at the 2024 Summer Para Games. He also won back-to-back silver medals at the World Championships in 2023 and 2024. OGQ is presently helping Nishad train in the US with renowned track-and-field coach Jeremy Fischer.
Nandan Kamath, managing trustee at the GoSports Foundation. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
To be sure, Nandan Kamath, managing trustee at the GoSports Foundation, could relate to Anukool when Sumit recently tested his limits at an able-bodied meet in Geneva. “That’s an incredible transition within a 10-year period, isn’t it? From being unsupported in 2015 to showing up at Atleticageneve — EAP (a bronze-tier meet on the World Athletics calendar) in 2025… And that itself tells you how far we have come,” Kamath tells Sportstar.
Sumit, the current F64 world-record holder, may have hurled the javelin only 68.58m, a far cry from his best throw of 73.29m, but the fact that he chose to break down the proverbial barrier and compete in the open category is a feat that will be talked about for years to come.
OGQ, GoSports, and IndianOil have countless such anecdotes to share, if someone’s listening.
The para-athlete support system works in very different ways across these three organisations. OGQ and GoSports, both non-profit ventures, thrive on CSR partnerships and donations. IndianOil, on the other hand, is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) that doles out an exclusive scholarship scheme called Divyashakti for para-athletes. With an outlay of ₹12 crores over three years, it supports 100 para-athletes across 16 sports disciplines.
“50 per cent of Divyashakti scholarships are reserved for women para-athletes. And that’s a first. It includes a stipend of ₹15,000-30,000 per month and reimbursement of tournament and kit expenses. Additionally, a one-time allowance of ₹60,000 is handed out per year,” says Manjusha Kanwar, DGM-Sports Coordination at IndianOil.
IndianOil, which had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) to support differently-abled athletes ahead of Paris 2024, also happens to be the main sponsor of the upcoming World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.
“For IndianOil, sport has always been about more than victories — it is about breaking barriers and inspiring millions. Our association with the Paralympic Committee of India under the “Road to Paralympics 2024” program reflects this ethos.... We are particularly proud that about eight Divyashakti athletes have already qualified for the upcoming World Para Athletics Championships 2025 in New Delhi, a landmark event for the country. Our role will be to ensure these athletes have every possible support — from training to exposure — so they can perform to their fullest potential on home soil,” IndianOil’s chairman Arvinder Singh Sahney said.
Arvinder Singh Sahney, chairman of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
This is a step in the right direction, Manjusha feels. “China and the US have a huge number of para-athletes. We still have a long way to go. But with India hosting, it gives us a few extra entries. It helps…you can be there and find out how they (other countries) are training. There are a lot of things you need to ensure before hosting any para championship. There needs to be better accessibility at all stadiums. If that movement starts with this championship, that will be very nice.”
Manjusha Kanwar, DGM-Sports Coordination at IndianOil. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Anukool calls this ‘movement’ the Paralympic revolution and believes we are slowly yet steadily moving towards a more inclusive sporting ecosystem. “Conversations about para-sports are becoming much more mainstream. Inclusivity is not just spoken about in boardrooms. It is being discussed when policy matters are being formulated. So, I definitely see a change in that point of view. I think the performances at the Paralympics have inspired a lot of young para-athletes to take up sport. There’s been a positive change.”
And with CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) partners like IndusInd Bank, AT&T India, Hyundai (that sowed the seeds of the Samarth initiative to create a more aware and inclusive society for people with disabilities), and Gameskraft stepping in from time to time to strengthen GoSports’ Para Champions programme, there isn’t much to worry about.
Kamath, who will have 13 of his athletes competing at Delhi’s Athletics Worlds soon, says: “The Para Champions programme was started in 2015 in the build-up to the Rio Games. Eventually, three (Devendra Jhajaria, Deepa Malik, and Varun Bhati) out of the four medallists were from this programme. That was the first systematic foray into promoting para sports. We already had medallists; we had won gold many years ago, but there was very little awareness and certainly very close to zero systematic support. Athletes even had to cover not only their own flights but also their coaches’.”
Anukool Bharadwaj, head of para sports wing at Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ). | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“Now the support we provide is way more sophisticated. A part of it is adapted equipment — making sure the prosthetics fit well. Almost all of this equipment is of American or German make. It is not just about trying to get access to the best wheelchairs or blades; it’s also about how you fit them. A lot of work now goes into the science of para sport. There is deep personalisation. For some of these athletes, their economic status is actually very limited. So, we also provide livelihood grants. Some just need monthly support… if they are at the top of their sport, it doesn’t mean they’re making money off it.”
Come September 26, every leap, throw, and stride will carry the silent strength of these supporters, who have thrown the doors wide open when the world had decided to keep them shut.
Published on Sep 23, 2025
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