The Australian government's Direct Aid Program (DAP) has provided a grant to support seven emerging Indian athletes, including para-athletes and women, through the GoSports Foundation. The announcement was made by the Australian Consulate in Mumbai on Thursday, marking a significant step in the growing partnership between India and Australia.
Details of the Grant
The DAP, a small grants initiative administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), was the main donor for the GoSports Athlete Support Programme. This one-year initiative, running from April 2025 to March 2026, supports seven emerging athletes from Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Beneficiaries and Sports
The beneficiaries are Rakesh Bhatt, Meet Thadani, Shashruti Nakade, Suyash Jadhav, Malvika Bansod, Aishwarya Mishra, and Shahu Mane. They compete in para-athletics, para-triathlon, para-swimming, badminton, athletics, and shooting. All athletes received equal access to support, reflecting both organizations' commitment to inclusive, performance-driven development.
Support Provided
The aid covers 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.
Quotes from Officials
Sonali Philip, Director of Operations, People & Culture at GoSports Foundation, said: "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."
Paul Murphy, Australian Consul General to Western India, added: "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."
