Page 43 - Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2021-22

Ensuring high-quality

sporting facilities

and equipment

Reliance Foundation is working to develop world-class
sports infrastructure across India to ensure that young
athletes have the right equipment to thrive. Reliance
Foundation under RFYS provides equipment and
infrastructure grants to develop sports in schools
and colleges.
Carrying hope
Helping young talent on their shoulders

maximise their potential – Jhilli Dalabehera
Coming from humble origins, Odisha weightlifter

RFYC resumed full-scale training in a bio-bubble with Jhilli Dalabehera has had an arduous journey in
a cohort of 65 athletes. Exposure visits to leading the sport, especially as she moved up weight
academies overseas were arranged for top prospects. categories. Hers is a story of grit, perseverance
RFYC alumni Muhammed Nemil of FC Goa, Thoi Singh and determination. Her career received a fillip
of Bengaluru FC and Koustav Das of Hyderabad FC when she was inducted into the Reliance Foundation
scored goals for their clubs at the Durand Cup. Olympics initiative and began to carve a niche for
herself. Her hard work paid off when she won two
international medals in 2021. She claimed gold
in the 45kg category at the Asian Weightlifting
Championships, and silver in the 49kg category
at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships.

Her fellow weightlifter from the Reliance Foundation
Olympics initiative, West Bengal’s Achinta Sheuli,
also overcame great odds as a teenager to make
his mark. Achinta benefited significantly from the
initiative’s high-performance support and guidance.
His transformation reaped dividends when he won
silver at the Junior World Championships, and
gold in the 73kg category at the Commonwealth
Weightlifting Championships. The latter feat helped
him quality directly for the 2022 Commonwealth
Games, where he won gold.

Jhilli and Achinta also competed at the National
Championships, building on their good form. They
are among the brightest stars of Indian weightlifting,
and with continued support from the Reliance
Foundation Olympic initiative, they are poised to
make India proud.

Annual Report 2021-22 43