- The para-athletes who are supported by the Bank under the Para Champions Programme (PCP) won 8 medals across disciplines
- The Indian Contingent clinched 5 Gold medals, of which 4 were won by athletes who are part of the PCP
September 11, 2021: IndusInd Bank is proud to announce that its supported para-athletes who are part of the Bank’s Para Champions Programme (PCP), have won 8 medals at the recently concluded Paralympics in Tokyo, comprising 42% of the total no. of medals won by the Indian Contingent. The Indian Contingent also clinched 5 Gold medals, of which 4 were won by athletes that are supported under the PCP.
The Bank supports 43 para-athletes under the PCP (in partnership with GoSports Foundation) of which, 21 of them represented the Country in Tokyo, across disciplines. In a bid to create a nationwide movement of support for these Para Champions, the Bank also launched a digital brand campaign to commemorate their achievements. Christened ‘Phirse #JeetKaHalla’, the campaign featured an inspiring ‘Anthem’ that showcased the grit and determination of these athletes.
The campaign was well received, as it crossed 18 million views on the Bank’s social media handles within a few days of its launch. You could watch it right here by clicking on the following link: https://youtu.be/3S9iCRQHMu0
Speaking about the performances of the para-athletes, Mr. Sanjeev Anand, Head – Commercial & Rural Banking and In-charge of IndusInd for Sports, IndusInd Bank said, “It is a moment of great pride to witness our supported Para Champions win laurels for the country and cement their place as bonafied achievers. This year, the Indian Contingent comprised 21 athletes from the Para Champions Programme as compared to 11 during the Rio games in 2016. The rise in numbers is a testament to our larger objective of expanding the pool, even further in the coming years. We, as an organisation are honoured to have been part of their journey and look forward to being partners of their progress in the future as well.”
The following para-athletes (supported by the Bank) won medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics:
| Sr. No. | Athlete | Sport | Category | Medal | |
| 1. | Avani Lekhara | Para –Shooting | Women’s R2 10m Air Rifle SH1 | Gold | |
| 2. | Manish Narwal | Para – Shooting | Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 | Gold | |
| 3. | Sumit Antil | Para – Javelin Throw | F64 | Gold | |
| 4. | Pramod Bhagat | Para – Badminton | Men’s Singles – SL3 | Gold | |
| 5. | Suhas Yathiraj | Para – Badminton | Men’s Singles – SL4 | Silver | |
| 6. | Avani Lekhara | Para – Shooting | Women’s 50m Rifle 3P SH1 | Bronze | |
| 7. | Sharad Kumar | Para – High Jump | T63 | Bronze | |
| 8. | Manoj Sarkar | Para – Badminton | Men’s Singles – SL3 | Bronze |
About the Para Champions Programme:
Launched in the financial year 2015-2016 in partnership with the GoSports Foundation, with an objective to support para-athletes across various sports disciplines. The programme currently supports 43 para-athletes across 7 disciplines from 14 states across the country by helping them fulfil their nutrition, fitness & conditioning, medical support as well as domestic & international training requirements. The programme also takes care of expenses incurred towards coaching, competition fee, sports science, daily living expenses, equipment & gear, apparel, mentorship, among others. This programme is a stunning example of what diversity and inclusion through sports should look like. The narrative of para-sports has moved forward ever since the Rio Paralympics, and now entering its sixth term, the programme is also in alignment with several objectives of the SDGs to ensure sustainability and larger impact. Under this programme, the para-athletes have won 623 medals since its inception.
About IndusInd Bank
IndusInd Bank, which commenced operations in 1994, caters to the needs of both consumer and corporate customers. Its technology platform supports multi-channel delivery capabilities. As on June 30, 2021, IndusInd Bank has Branches 2,015/ Banking Outlet and 2,870 ATMs spread across 760 geographical locations of the country. The Bank also has representative offices in London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Bank believes in driving its business through technology. It enjoys clearing bank status for both major stock exchanges – BSE and NSE – and major commodity exchanges in the country, including MCX, NCDEX and NMCE. IndusInd Bank was included in the NIFTY 50 benchmark index on April 1, 2013.
