Greater Noida, July 15, 2026: HCLFoundation, which drives the corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda of HCLTech in India, organised the 8th edition of the Sports for Change (SFC) National Finals 2026 at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida. The three-day event brought together 600 young athletes, 300 boys and 300 girls, from 15 states and Union Territories who qualified through district, state and zonal-level competitions.
The national finals featured participants from Uttar Pradesh, Ladakh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim and Nagaland. Competitions were held across seven disciplines: football, kabaddi, volleyball, kho kho, archery, badminton and table tennis.
Reflecting on the event, Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, SVP, Global CSR, HCLTech and Director, HCLFoundation, said, “At HCLFoundation, we believe every child, regardless of their socio-economic background, deserves the opportunity to discover their potential and pursue their aspirations. By nurturing grassroots talent and fostering an environment where young athletes are encouraged to dream bigger, build resilience and strive for excellence, we hope the National Finals inspire every participant to realize that their circumstances need not define their future."
The Sports for Change programme seeks to provide underserved children and youth with opportunities in sports while addressing barriers related to poverty, class, caste and physical ability. According to HCLFoundation, the initiative has reached more than 74,000 children and youth, including 474 para-athletes, since its inception.
This year, over 12,000 young athletes participated in the Sports for Change competition across various stages. HCLFoundation said it will provide more than 30 sports scholarships to top performers, covering coaching, sports equipment, nutrition and access to training facilities.
The programme has also supported athletes in advancing to higher levels of competition. More than 490 participants have progressed to national-level events, while 38 athletes have represented India internationally. Among them are Jerlin Anika (Badminton), Preeti Pal (100m and 200m races), Akshaya (Rugby), Rajkumari (Powerlifting) and Kanishri (Chess).
Through Sports for Change, HCLFoundation continues to promote grassroots sports development by expanding access to sporting opportunities and supporting young athletes from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
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