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State Bank of India (SBI) on Thursday felicitated nine athletes who collectively won 11 medals for India at the Asian Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The bank recognised their achievements and contribution to Indian sports. These athletes are supported by SBI under its sports development initiatives.
A total of 22 athletes supported by SBI participated in the Games as part of the 501-member Indian contingent. Of these, nine athletes won a total of 11 medals for the country, including one gold, three silver and seven bronze medals, according to a statement issued by the bank.
CS Setty, Chairman of SBI, said the bank was proud to celebrate the success of athletes who had brought honour to the country at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. He said their achievements would help pave the way for upcoming international sporting events, including the Los Angeles Olympics.
The athletes who won medals included Vithya Ramraj and Prachi Choudhary, members of the women’s 4×400-metre relay team, along with silver medallists Jay Kumar, Gulveer Singh, Vishal T K and Manu T S. Bronze medallists Parul Chaudhary, Rohit Yadav and Rajesh Ramesh were also among those felicitated by SBI for their performances at the Games.
🥇 Gold Medalist
- Vithya Ramraj – Track & Field (Women’s 4x400m Relay & Individual events)
🥈 Silver Medalists
- Prachi Choudhary – Track & Field (Women’s 4x400m Relay)
- Gulveer Singh – Long-distance Running
- Jay Kumar – Track Events
- Vishal T K – Track Events
- Manu T S – Track Events
🥉 Bronze Medalists
- Parul Chaudhary – Long-distance Running
- Rohit Yadav – Field Events (Javelin Throw)
- Rajesh Ramesh – Sprint / Relay Events
How SBI supported them?
The State Bank of India (SBI) and its CSR arm, the SBI Foundation, support these athletes holistically through the SBIF ACE: GOLD (Gearing for Olympic Dominance) programme. In partnership with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), the initiative provides structured, long-term backing rather than single-event funding.
World-Class Training Infrastructure: Athletes receive full access to IIS’s state-of-the-art training facilities in Vijayanagar, Karnataka, which feature elite sports infrastructure and specialized equipment.
Elite International Coaching: Under the programme, athletes train under renowned global experts. This includes Troy Douglas (from the Netherlands) leading track training and Yoandri Betanzos (from Cuba) overseeing the jumps programme, all operating under the leadership of Gary Hall.
Sports Science & Performance Analytics: To maximize efficiency and prevent injuries, the programme provides data-driven sports science assistance, cutting-edge performance analytics, and tailored rehabilitation systems.
Comprehensive Financial & Living Support: The foundation covers vital living expenses, including specialized diet and nutrition planning, comfortable accommodation, and a dedicated monthly stipend to ensure financial stability during intensive training cycles.
