The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
MUMBAI, NOV 10, 2023
Reliance Foundation athletes made a big splash at the National Games, Goa 2023, winning a total of 30 medals in seven different sports. The final medal tally comprised 15 Gold, 8 Silver and 7 Bronze medals in a splendid and medal-laden display from start to finish. Over 40 athletes from Reliance Foundation took part in seven sports at the prestigious competition.
Speaking about the fine display, James Hillier, Athletics Director at Reliance Foundation, said, “We are really pleased with the results at the National Games. For many of our athletes, it was the last competition of the year in a very long season. They started in April, so to sustain that level of excellence for seven months is a very impressive feat.
“It was pleasing to not just see the medals but our athletes also registered their personal bests. It has been a good end to a very successful season for us. It gives us the perfect springboard for next season. The next year is a big year with the Olympics, we are excited and looking forward to it. We’ll be looking to get our best athletes into the Paris Olympics squad.”
India’s ace hurdler Jyothi Yarraji finished her season in style with a hat-trick of medals at the National Games. The icing on the cake was the fact that Jyothi rewrote the meet record in the women’s 100m hurdles event, winning Gold by clocking a time of 13.22s. Jyothi also won Gold in the 4x100m relay event with Andhra Pradesh. Her third medal came in the 200m event, where she won bronze with a time of 23.95s in the final.
Tejas Shirse lived up to his billing of pre-tournament favourite by clinching Gold in style in the men’s 110m hurdles event. In a dominant display, Tejas rewrote the meet record in the event by crossing the finish line in 13.71s.
Asian Games medalist Gulveer Singh won Gold in the 5000m event in a time of 14:13.03s. Gulveer backed up his Gold with a bronze in the men’s 10000m event to complete a long distance double. Sprinter Elakkkiyadasan won a brace of medals, winning Gold in both the men’s 100m and men’s 4x100m relay.
Javelin thrower Kishore Kumar Jena, who has already sealed a spot at the Paris Olympics next year, won bronze with a best throw of 78.47m. Pole vaulter Baranica Elangovan also finished her season on a high with a Gold by clearing a height of 3.90m.
The other individual medalists from Reliance Foundation in athletics were Swadhin Majhi (bronze, men’s high jump), Graceson Jeeva (silver, men’s 110m hurdles), Moumita Mondal (bronze, women’s long jump), Dhanvir Singh (silver, men’s shot put) and Animesh Kujur (bronze, men’s 200m).
