Reliance Foundation Athletes Poised to Shine at National Games 2025

Bhubaneswar, January 28, 2025: The 38th edition of the National Games is set to witness a strong contingent of over 50 Reliance Foundation athletes competing across eight disciplines, including athletics, boxing, badminton, shooting, judo, weightlifting, wrestling, and table tennis. Hosted in Uttarakhand from January 28 to February 14, the games promise thrilling performances from some of India’s finest talents.

Tokyo Medalist Lovlina Borgohain Returns

Among the headline acts is Tokyo Olympics medalist Lovlina Borgohain, making her first competitive appearance since the Paris Olympics. She will be joined by rising judo sensation Himanshi Tokas, who recently surged into the junior world’s top 5 rankings after stellar victories at the African Cup in Casablanca.

Star-Studded Athletics Lineup

The athletics event will see plenty of national record holders from the Reliance Foundation in action, including 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 (India’s fastest man in 2024), DM Jayaram, Bapi Hansda, and Sakshi Chavan will also be ones to watch, aiming to carry forward their junior-level successes.

Speaking about the athletics contingent, James Hillier, Athletics Director at Reliance Foundation, said, “We’re really excited about the National Games. It is a great opportunity for our athletes to start their seasons a little earlier than usual. It is a chance for our athletes to gauge their fitness and how well they have been training as this competition is being held outside the traditional season for athletics in India. We expect our athletes to win quite a few medals and get some great momentum at the start of the year. This is a very important year for us as most of our athletes are targeting the Asian Championships in 2025. This competition is a very good opportunity for our athletes to aim to breach the qualification mark for the Asian Championships.”

Red-Hot Form for Jyothi Yarraji and Tejas Shirse

Both Jyothi and Tejas are entering the games in exceptional form, having broken the indoor national records in the 60m hurdles earlier this month. Jyothi’s remarkable performance comes on the heels of being named among the recipients of the prestigious Arjuna Award, underscoring her stellar achievements.



Other Sporting Stars in Action

In badminton, the talented trio of Anupama Upadhyaya, Unnati Hooda, and Shriyanshi Valishetty are among the favorites for the women’s singles title. Meanwhile, table tennis veteran G Sathiyan will compete in the men’s singles event.

The shooting arena will see double Asian Games medalist Palak Gulia (10m air pistol) and reigning national champion Ashi Chouksey (10m air rifle and 50m rifle 3 positions) vying for top honors. Ashi started her year on a high note by clinching the national championships title.

With a mix of seasoned campaigners and young prodigies, Reliance Foundation athletes are poised to make a significant mark at the National Games, setting the stage for a year of sporting excellence.