Lakshya Mumbai

SPORTS

With an eye on Rio 2016, Lakshya launches in Mumbai

Mumbai: Lakshya, a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to identify and nurture sporting excellence, has begun its countdown to the 2016 Rio Olympic and launched its Mumbai operations on Thurday with an aim to involve every Indian in helping the players achieve the Olympic dream.

Five Lakshya-supported players had qualified for the 2012 London Olympics and gave a good account of themselves. The organisation has now set a target of helping more than a dozen sportspersons to qualify for Rio and claim as many medals.

 

From Left to right – Dr. Vece Paes, Kiran More, Lakshya secretary Swastik Sirsikar, and Hitesh Jain

 

Speaking about the significance of launching its operations in Mumbai, former chief selector of the Indian cricket team and an active member of Lakshya Mumbai, Kiran More, said supporting an Olympic dream requires huge funds and there could have been no better place to reach out to sports lovers than the country's financial capital.

"Mumbai has a rich history of sports and has always supported sportspersons and sport organisations. I request all of you to spread the word so that no sportsperson in this country fails to fulfil his/her Olympic dream for lack of support," he added.

More said the organisation has always worked with a two-pronged strategy of supporting top level 

athletes and also promoting the sport culture at the grass-root level through their support to junior 

and upcoming players.

“It is also very important to nurture talent at a young age. Lakshya fulfils that goal by not just adopting youngsters but also providing them a 360-degree holistic support and an environment to improve their standards consistently,” said the former India stumper.

Lakshya also announced that local boy and junior national badminton champion Harshil Dani would be the first player from Mumbai to come on board after the launch of its operations.

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Said Dr Vece Paes, who has been the guiding force behind the various testing and training programs being run by Lakshya for its players, “The work Lakshya has been doing is

commendable. I have been personally involved in the testing and training program of the tennis players and I can assure you that the players are on the right track in terms of preparation for the bigger battles.”

Lakshya secretary Swastik Sirsikar outlined the journey of the organisation since its inception in 2009. The organisation started as a coffee table discussion looking to support local sporting talent. 

But within three years, it supports over 45 sportspersons across six disciplines and has a pan-India presence through these performers.

"When we began in 2009, we had set a target for a medal in 2016 Olympics. Five of our athletes made it to the London Games and that has definitely boosted our confidence,” he added.

As part of their grass-root sports development program, Lakshya conducted a special tennis talent 

hunt in Gujarat earlier this year. The players selected from the camps or otherwise are then adopted by Lakshya, which provides them 360 support from physical and mental training, special coaching and conditioning camps and also injury management. 

Lakshya recently funded chess player D Harika's five week training stint with world renowed coach Elizbar Ubilava and the Grandmaster came back with a bronze medal from the 2012 Women's World championship.

The tennis players are also being sent regularly for international training and exposure.

Speaking on the occasion, Olympian Rahi Sarnobat explained the role Lakshya has played in her career.

“During the Olympic qualification period, Lakshya through the Gun for Glory academy had hired a foreign gunsmith who helped me alter my grip, which helped me improve my performance and qualify for the Olympics," she added.

Lakshya also proposes to start a sports science centre in Pune to provide all the allied services expertise to players under one roof and also create protocols that will help identify talent at an early age.