Indian sports wrap, September 23: TN CM Joseph Vijay announces ₹30 lakh cash reward for Asian Games medallist Hariharan

India’s men secured back-to-back Asian Games team medals for the first time in 40 years, matching their 1986 Seoul feat alongside stars like Satwik–Chirag and Lakshya Sen. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

BADMINTON

On a humid evening in Ichinomiya, Hariharan Amsakarunan stood with India’s men’s badminton team, a bronze medal around his neck after a gritty Asian Games semi-final loss to China. It was a historic finish: India’s men secured back-to-back Asian Games team medals for the first time in 40 years, matching their 1986 Seoul feat alongside stars like Satwik–Chirag and Lakshya Sen.

Back in Chennai, that moment turned into celebration. In a post on X, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay wrote: “The Indian men’s team, who won a bronze medal in the men’s group event at the Asian Games in Japan, was also represented by a member of the Tamil Nadu badminton player… In recognition of his talent, the Government of Tamil Nadu will provide a high level incentive of Rs.30 lakh… This achievement of Hariharan ji is a great inspiration for the youth of Tamil Nadu. The Government of Tamil Nadu will always support the dreams of sportspersons.”

ஜப்பானில் நடைபெற்றுவரும் ஆசிய விளையாட்டுப் போட்டியில், பேட்மிண்டன் ஆடவர் குழுப் பிரிவில் வெண்கலப் பதக்கம் வென்று சாதனை படைத்துள்ள இந்திய ஆடவர் அணிக்கும், அவ்வணியில் இடம்பெற்றுள்ள தமிழ்நாட்டைச் சேர்ந்த பேட்மிண்டன் வீரர் திரு.ஹரிஹரன் அவர்களுக்கும் எனது நெஞ்சார்ந்த வாழ்த்துகள்… pic.twitter.com/4WpmcLWXMe

— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) September 23, 2026

SWIMMING

Bajaj Finserv Ltd. today announced its foray into swimming by signing up 16-year-old swimming sensation Dhinidhi Desinghu, India’s top-ranked swimmer who was the youngest member of India’s contingent at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Bajaj Finserv will invest in these sports at the most formative stage where support can shape the trajectory of the sport itself and in turn the careers of many sportspeople.

At the heart of this plan is Bajaj Finserv’s purpose of mobilizing collective will – activating, organizing and directing the shared motivation, energy and determination of a group of people towards a common goal.

Through these investments, Bajaj intends to elevate the landscape of swimming and other emerging sports in India. The story of one athlete taking India to the world stage can inspire many more to take up the sport. Their will, combined with access to the right resources, at the right time, can catapult the prestige associated with the sport.

It can thus become one of the symbols of the New India, in turn breaking stereotypes and limiting conventions. Dhinidhi’s journey is one such inspiring story - growing up in Bengaluru, Dhinidhi began swimming at six and rose swiftly through India’s junior ranks under coach Nihar Ameen.

At 14, she made her Olympic debut in Paris. Since then, her progress has been steep: she won 11 medals, nine of them gold, at the 2025 National Games, and today holds national records in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle.

Since Paris, she has taken her own 200m freestyle record from 2:04.24 to 2:01.81. With her most important years still ahead, Bajaj Finserv believes she can become one of the defining names in Indian swimming over the next decade.

Manav Mianwal, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Bajaj Finserv Ltd. & President- Digital Platforms, Bajaj Finance Ltd., said: “Great sporting journeys are built long before the podium. Dhinidhi has represented India at the Olympics and made a splash in world aquatics, showing what young Indian athletes can achieve. The most meaningful time to invest in an athlete is when talent and ambition are visible, but the road ahead still needs sustained support. We want to be there during those formative years, not only in moments of victory.

He added, “Our intent is to go beyond associating with sporting success and to help create it. By backing young athletes in disciplines that have traditionally received inadequate support, we hope to build a wider ecosystem of support and inspire more young Indians to believe that pursuing excellence in sport can be a real possibility.”

Dhinidhi Desinghu said: “I am extremely grateful to the Bajaj Finserv team for believing in me and supporting me at this stage of my journey. I’m still at the very beginning of my career, and having the support of a brand that believes in my potential gives me a lot of confidence and motivation. I want to achieve a lot in swimming by working hard, continuing to learn and represent India at the highest stages. I’m thankful to Bajaj Finserv for choosing to be part of my journey and for backing my dreams from this early stage.”

Dhinidhi’s parents said: “As parents, watching Dhinidhi grow from a young swimmer into an Olympian has already been a proud journey for her. Having the right people and organizations believe in her and support her ambitions means a lot to our family. Bajaj Finserv’s decision to support Dhinidhi at such a young age gives her the confidence and backing to focus on her training and development and also continuing to chase bigger dreams. We are extremely grateful for their trust in her potential and look forward to this journey together.”

Ramakrishnan R, Co-Founder, Baseline Ventures, said: “Indian sport needs more long-term corporate support, especially for athletes in the early stages of their careers and especially for sports that do not have great commercial visibility. We are incredibly grateful to work with organizations like Bajaj Finserv who recognize Dhinidhi’s potential and, more importantly, choose to support her vision and believe in her talent at this formative stage of her journey.

“Dhinidhi is a promising athlete, and there is still a long road ahead but the right support at this stage can play an important role in shaping her development and will go a long way in building her confidence.

“We look forward to working closely with the Bajaj Finserv team and supporting Dhinidhi as she continues to grow, compete and pursue her dreams on the global stage.”