Sports for Change: HCLFoundation’s Initiative to Promote Inclusive Sports and Talent Development
Chennai: HCLFoundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of global technology company HCLTech in India, has announced the commencement of the 7th edition of the Sports for Change National Finals 2025. The event was held at Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College in Chennai and was graced by Padma Shri, Achanta Sharath Kamal, Former Indian Table Tennis player and Vice-Chairperson of the Indian Olympic Association Athletes’ Commission.
A Platform for Young Athletes to Shine
The Sports for Change Competition brought together 12,256 young athletes from across India, selected through a rigorous process involving training camps and multi-tier qualifiers at the district, state, and zonal levels. The event culminated in the participation of 758 top-performing children from 14 states. The competition featured a wide range of sports, including team games, track and field events, and individual games.
Promoting Inclusive Sports
As part of the event, HCLFoundation distributed 131 basketball wheelchairs to five State Federations—Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh—underscoring its commitment to accessibility and empowerment through sports. Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, SVP, Global CSR, HCLTech and Director, HCLFoundation, emphasized the transformative power of sports in unlocking potential and uplifting young lives, especially among underserved children and youth.
Impact and Success Stories
The Sports for Change initiative has positively impacted over 64,000 young athletes, producing sporting talent who have gone on to represent India at major international tournaments and bring home medals. The program has also cultivated a strong community leadership pipeline, with 72 alum athletes becoming community coaches, including 24 certified by national sports federations.
