Noida: Gauri Shiksha Foundation and Prometheus Sports Academy organised the grand prize distribution ceremony of the Noida Sports Talent Hunt – Edition 2 at Prometheus School, Sector 131, Noida, on Thursday. The event also featured a special felicitation ceremony for India’s medal-winning para-athletes at the Asian Para Games 2026, recognising their outstanding achievements and contribution to the country’s sporting legacy.
Cash rewards for India’s para-sports champions
As part of the felicitation, the foundation announced cash rewards for the medal-winning athletes to recognise their achievements and encourage sporting excellence. The reward structure included ₹1 lakh for gold medallists, ₹75,000 for silver medallists and ₹50,000 for bronze medallists.
Honoured athletes included Praveen Kumar, who won gold in the men’s high jump T64 category, and Simran Sharma, who secured two gold medals in the women’s 100m and 200m T12 events.
Other para-athletes felicitated included Preeti Pal, who won silver medals in the women’s 100m and 200m T35 events; Surya Kant Yadav, bronze medallist in para badminton men’s doubles SL3–SU5; Swati Chaudhary, silver medallist in women’s W1 para archery; and Varun Singh Bhati, silver medallist in men’s high jump T63.
The list also included Ajeet Singh, silver medallist in men’s javelin throw F46; Ashok Malik, silver medallist in men’s para powerlifting up to 65 kg; Bhawna Choudhary, silver medallist in para archery recurve women’s doubles; and para-badminton player Nitesh Kumar.
Mukesh Sharma calls for stronger grassroots sports development
Addressing the gathering, Mukesh Sharma, founder chairperson of Prometheus School and founder trustee of Gauri Shiksha Foundation, shared his vision for strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem through early talent identification, better infrastructure and greater parental involvement.
Highlighting the facilities available at Prometheus Sports Academy, Sharma spoke about its sports infrastructure, which includes eight indoor badminton courts, a 15-table table tennis arena, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, shooting ranges and gymnastics facilities.
He emphasised that building a strong sporting nation requires identifying and nurturing talent from an early age. He also urged parents to encourage children to participate in competitive sports and provide them with opportunities to pursue their sporting ambitions.
Sharma acknowledged the contribution of organisations such as Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), which work towards supporting and empowering India’s elite athletes.
Talent hunt aims to create pathways for future champions
The Noida Sports Talent Hunt is a joint initiative of Gauri Shiksha Foundation and Prometheus Sports Academy aimed at identifying promising sporting talent across Noida and providing young athletes with opportunities to develop their abilities.
Through scholarships, professional coaching and structured development pathways, the initiative seeks to support emerging athletes and help them progress towards national and international competitions.
The organisers said the initiative reflects their long-term commitment to strengthening India’s sports ecosystem and creating opportunities for athletes to represent the country at future Olympic and Paralympic Games.