India Celebrates Sports Triumphs at Star-Studded 'United in Triumph' Gala

Reliance Foundation hosted 'United in Triumph' to honor India's record-breaking Olympic and Paralympic athletes. The event, led by Nita M Ambani, saw over 140 athletes celebrated for their achievements, embodying the spirit of equality through sports. Bollywood stars and sporting legends graced the occasion.

In a landmark moment for Indian sports, Reliance Foundation, under the leadership of Nita M Ambani, hosted 'United in Triumph'—an evening celebrating equality and excellence through the unifying power of sports—on Sunday at Antilia, Mumbai. This comes after India's record haul of 29 medals at the Paris Paralympics, including seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals.

In her address, Nita Ambani remarked, 'This is truly historic. Over the last two months, our Olympians and Paralympians proudly took the tricolor to the world! Tonight, for the first time, they are all under one roof. Over 140 Olympic and Paralympic athletes have come together on the same platform. United in Triumph, United in Celebration, and United in the inclusive spirit of sport.' Ambani highlighted the 'transformational power of sport' and praised India's female athletes for overcoming significant challenges to achieve success. 'Their successes are even more special because of the difficulties women face in pursuing professional sport,' she added, commending their resilience and journey.

Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm, also extended his gratitude to the athletes, saying, 'On behalf of the entire Reliance family, thank you for your inspiration. I would also like to thank my mother, Nita Ambani, for making this evening possible. Like everything else we do at Reliance Foundation, United in Triumph is her vision.' Athletes across various disciplines were honored for their contributions to placing India on the global sports map.

The event featured numerous Olympic and Paralympic medallists like Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker, and Murlikant Petkar, India's first-ever Paralympic gold medalist. Joining them were Devendra Jhajharia, the first Indian to win two Paralympic gold medals, and the President of the Paralympic Committee of India. Other gold medalists from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games included Sumit Antil, Nitesh Kumar, Harvinder Singh, Dharambir Nain, Navdeep Singh, and Praveen Kumar. Distinguished athletes such as Preethi Pal, Mona Agarwal, Simran Sharma, and Olympians like Sarabjot Singh, Swapnil Kusale, and Aman Sehrawat also attended. The Indian men's hockey team was represented by captain Harmanpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh, members of the medal-winning squad in Paris. Olympians Lovlina Borgohain and Dhinidhi Desinghu, the youngest member of India's contingent, were notably present, showcasing India's burgeoning talent pool.

Indian sporting legends including Deepa Malik, Sania Mirza, Karnam Malleswari, and Pullela Gopichand graced the ceremony, providing inspiration to the younger generation. Bollywood superstars Ranveer Singh and Kartik Aaryan, known for their roles in sports-centric movies '83' and 'Chandu Champion,' respectively, were also present to celebrate India's sporting heroes. In a touching gesture, Nita Ambani was presented with the Paris 2024 Paralympic Torch by Devendra Jhajharia, Sumit Antil, and Satyanarayana, chief coaches of the Paralympic Committee of India, symbolizing appreciation for her efforts towards inclusivity in sports.

'United in Triumph' not only celebrated athletic excellence but also underscored the importance of equality in recognition, regardless of the arena. The event marked a new chapter in Indian sports, where every athlete is celebrated for their dedication, resilience, and pursuit of excellence. The athletes reiterated their support for Ambani's vision of fostering a multi-sporting nation and committed to inspiring future generations by showing solidarity with her mission.

(With inputs from agencies.)