Some of India’s greatest champions are born far from the spotlight. They emerge from villages, mountains and communities where resources may be limited, but determination knows no boundaries.
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Lakshya Scholar Puja Tomar; Dr. Payal Kanodia, Chairperson & Trustee, M3M Foundation, with Lakshya Scholar Tenzin Dolma
Long before medals are won and records are broken, these athletes battle circumstances, shoulder responsibilities and continue to pursue excellence with unwavering resolve.
Recognising the extraordinary potential hidden within India’s grassroots, M3M Foundation launched Lakshya to ensure that talent is supported, aspirations are nurtured and deserving athletes receive the opportunity to represent the nation with pride.
One such champion is Tenzin Dolma, an ultra-runner from the remote Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh and a beneficiary of M3M Foundation’s Lakshya Programme.
Recently, Tenzin brought pride to the nation at the IAU Asian-Oceania 24 Hours Championship in Japan, where she broke both India’s 12-hour and 24-hour National Records and helped the Indian Women’s Team secure the Bronze Medal. For a woman who lost her parents at a young age, became a mother in her teens and supported her family through a modest tea stall, the achievement represents far more than a sporting milestone – it is a story of resilience, perseverance and hope.
Tenzin’s journey reflects the larger vision of Lakshya, M3M Foundation’s flagship sports initiative envisioned under the leadership of Dr. Payal Kanodia, Chairperson and Trustee, M3M Foundation, who herself is an International Kettlebell Champion. Having experienced the demands of competitive sport firsthand, Dr. Kanodia believes that talent should never be limited by geography or financial circumstances.
Today, Lakshya supports more than 100 scholars across 11 states, including Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.
The programme’s impact extends across 36 sporting disciplines, from Athletics and Boxing to Golf, Gymnastics, Para Sports and Kettlebell Lifting, creating opportunities for talented athletes who otherwise may never have received access to structured support.
Among them is Puja Tomar, one of India’s leading mixed martial artists and another Lakshya Scholar. Hailing from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Puja overcame personal and financial hardships to pursue combat sports and went on to script history by becoming the first Indian woman to register a victory in the UFC. Her journey, much like Tenzin’s, demonstrates the extraordinary potential that exists within India’s grassroots communities.
The achievements of Lakshya scholars are increasingly being reflected on podiums across the world. Collectively, athletes supported by the programme have secured 390 medals, including 77 international medals, reinforcing the Foundation’s commitment to strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem from the grassroots upwards.
Speaking about the Foundation’s vision, Dr. Payal Kanodia said, “As an athlete myself, I understand the sacrifices, discipline and perseverance that excellence demands. Through Lakshya, our endeavour is to ensure that deserving sportspersons receive the opportunities and support they need to realise their full potential. Athletes like Tenzin Dolma and Puja Tomar remind us that some of India’s greatest champions emerge from the most challenging circumstances.”
For M3M Foundation, Lakshya is not merely about supporting athletes. It is about believing in dreams before the world recognises them and ensuring that talent from every corner of India gets an opportunity to make the nation proud.
About M3M Foundation
M3M Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the M3M Group, working across education, health, livelihoods, sports, and environment. With a reach across 22 states and over 1,300 villages, the Foundation has positively impacted more than 5 million lives, driven by a vision of inclusive, sustainable, and transformative nation building.
