MUMBAI: A grant from Australia’s Direct Aid Program has provided support to seven emerging Indian athletes, including para-athletes and women, via a sports foundation in this country. A press release issued by the Australian Consulate in Mumbai Thursday said this marks a meaningful chapter in the growing partnership between India and Australia.“The Australian Govt’s Direct Aid Program (DAP), a small grants initiative administered through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to support development-focused projects across the world, was the main donor for the GoSports Athlete Support Programme. The programme implemented by GoSports Foundation, a leading non-profit dedicated to nurturing sporting talent, was a one-year initiative from April 2025 to March 2026, supporting seven emerging athletes from Maharashtra and Gujarat.” The beneficiaries were Rakesh Bhatt, Meet Thadani, Shashruti Nakade, Suyash Jadhav, Malvika Bansod, Aishwarya Mishra and Shahu Mane. They were competing across para-athletics, para-triathlon, para swimming, badminton, athletics and shooting. All received equal access to support. “This is a deliberate reflection of both organisation’s commitment to inclusive, performance-driven development.” The aid covered competition travel and accommodation, sport-specific equipment, nutrition planning and sports psychology. The impact is already measurable. Shahu Mane unofficially broke a national record and topped Trial 1 after a critical rifle replacement funded by the grant. Malvika Bansod returned from injury to compete in nine European tour events, including a quarterfinal at the Orleans Masters, aided by Normatec recovery boots procured through the programme. Aishwarya Mishra clocked 53.30 seconds, surpassing the Asian Games qualification mark of 53.70 seconds. Meet Thadani clocked a personal best following a high performance training stint at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.“The Australian DAP’s support contributes to building stronger, more consistent environments for our athletes. It is partnerships like these that translate potential into performance by strengthening the systems around them,” said Sonali Philip, director-operations, people & culture, GoSports Foundation.“This partnership is delivering real impact. It strengthens pathways from grassroots participation to elite competition, supporting athletes of all backgrounds and abilities with opportunities to excel. This reflects Australia’s strong focus on sport as a driver of development and highlights the important role that sport plays in bilateral cooperation,” said Paul Murphy, Australian consul general to Western India.
