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Flutter lifts the bar as Rs 60 lakh boost powers para-athletes’ big push
MUMBAI: Great stories aren’t just told on podiums, sometimes they begin in an upgraded gym, a rebuilt limb, or a renewed fighting chance. That’s the spirit powering Flutter Entertainment India LLP’s new partnership with the Aditya Mehta Foundation (AMF), a collaboration designed to strengthen India’s para-sports ecosystem with purpose, precision, and a significant financial push.
Flutter Entertainment India (FEI), the Hyderabad-based centre of excellence for global sports entertainment giant Flutter, has committed Rs 60 lakh to AMF to support two major programmes, the upgradation of AMF’s Training and Rehabilitation Centre/Adaptive Gym, complete with nutrition and coaching support, and the provision of customised adaptive devices and sport-specific equipment. Together, these initiatives will directly impact up to 15 para-athletes as they prepare for major tournaments, including the Asian Youth Para Games and the 2028 Paralympic Games.
For AMF Asia’s first organisation dedicated exclusively to para-sports rehabilitation and high-performance training, the partnership adds fuel to a decade-long mission. Founded in 2013, AMF has nurtured grassroots talent into medal-winning champions, contributing to over 450 international medals for India and paving the way for para-athletes to train with dignity, precision, and world-class resources.
“Para-athletes require specialised training, rehabilitation and adaptive equipment, and this investment will directly help them access these essential resources,” said AMF international para-cyclist and founder Aditya Mehta. Highlighting the significance of the partnership, he added that the support will help athletes compete in crucial qualifiers such as World Championships and World Cups, accelerating India’s journey towards securing multiple slots at the 2028 Paralympics.
On FEI’s role in powering that momentum, Flutter Entertainment India managing director Ashish Sinha emphasised the brand’s long-term commitment, “Para-athletes represent resilience, ambition, and the belief that sport should be accessible to everyone. By strengthening access to adaptive equipment, sports science, and professional coaching, we aim to support athletes in competing with confidence on the global stage.”
The collaboration focuses on two core programmes:
Programme 1: Training Ecosystem Upgradation
Flutter’s support will bolster AMF’s training and rehabilitation environment with upgraded adaptive gym facilities, physiotherapy support, sports science interventions, and structured nutrition plans. The investment aligns with Flutter’s broader vision of building safe, inclusive and high-quality sporting ecosystems that enable talent to flourish.
Programme 2: Customised Adaptive Devices & Equipment
Understanding that elite performance demands precision, the initiative will also fund bespoke adaptive devices and sport-specific equipment tailored to the athlete’s needs, a crucial advantage in world-level competitions.
The partnership also ties into Flutter’s global Positive Impact Plan, specifically its “Do More” pillar, which aims to improve the lives of 10 million people by 2030. Supporting para-athletes with professional training systems, advanced equipment, and sports science expertise is a key step in that mission.
With fresh infrastructure, renewed support, and a shared vision between FEI and AMF, India’s para-athletes are now positioned not just to participate but to push harder, aim higher, and rewrite the record books one finish line at a time.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
