Recognising the immense talent present across the country's grassroots communities, M3M Foundation launched the Lakshya Programme to provide deserving athletes with support and opportunities to represent the nation with distinction.
Among its beneficiaries is Tenzin Dolma, an ultra-runner from the remote Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Recently, she brought pride to India at the IAU Asian-Oceania 24 Hours Championship in Japan by breaking the country's 12-hour and 24-hour national records. Her performance also helped the Indian women's team secure the bronze medal. Tenzin's achievement carries special significance as she lost her parents at a young age, became a mother during her teenage years and supported her family by running a modest tea stall before rising to international recognition.
Her journey reflects the vision behind Lakshya, the flagship sports initiative of M3M Foundation, established under the leadership of Dr. Payal Kanodia, Chairperson and Trustee of M3M Foundation. Dr. Kanodia, an international kettlebell champion herself, believes that sporting talent should never be restricted by geography or financial limitations.
At present, the programme supports more than 100 scholars across 11 states, including Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Lakshya has expanded its reach across 36 sporting disciplines, including athletics, boxing, golf, gymnastics, para sports and kettlebell lifting. The initiative aims to provide structured support to talented athletes who otherwise might not have had access to professional opportunities.
Another notable Lakshya scholar is Puja Tomar, one of India's leading mixed martial artists. A native of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, she overcame personal and financial challenges to pursue combat sports and created history by becoming the first Indian woman to register a victory in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Her rise, similar to that of Tenzin Dolma, highlights the exceptional talent emerging from India's grassroots communities.
The achievements of Lakshya scholars have increasingly been reflected at international competitions. Athletes supported by the programme have collectively won 390 medals, including 77 international medals, reinforcing M3M Foundation's commitment to strengthening India's sporting ecosystem from the grassroots level.
Speaking about the Foundation's vision, Dr. Payal Kanodia said that as an athlete herself, she understands the sacrifices, discipline and perseverance required to achieve excellence. She stated that through Lakshya, the Foundation seeks to ensure that deserving sportspersons receive the support and opportunities necessary to realise their full potential. According to her, athletes such as Tenzin Dolma and Puja Tomar demonstrate that some of India's greatest champions emerge from the most challenging circumstances.
M3M Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the M3M Group, works across education, healthcare, livelihoods, sports and environmental initiatives. With a presence in 22 states and more than 1,300 villages, the Foundation has positively impacted over five million lives through its vision of inclusive, sustainable and transformative nation-building.
The success stories of Tenzin Dolma and Puja Tomar underline the broader mission of M3M Foundation's Lakshya Programme, which seeks to identify and nurture talent from every corner of the country and ensure that dreams are recognised long before the world takes notice.
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