In an endeavorer to full fill its Corporate Social Responsibility, Mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics Pvt Limited (India) launched their "Sports Ratna Program" initiative, whereby the company is providing scholarship support to 10 top Indian athletes as they prepare for the forthcoming 16th Asian Games, to be held at Guangzhou, China from November 12-27, 2010.
Samsung India is the ‘Official Partner' for the Indian Contingent and Samsung Electronics (the parent company), is the ‘Prestige Partner' for the forthcoming 16th Asian Games.
Announcing the launch of the Samsung ‘Sports Ratna' program, J. S. Shin, President and CEO, Samsung South West Asia stated, "Like in other parts of the world, sports has a special place in the hearts of the people in India as well. At Samsung too, we have had a longstanding association with major sporting events around the globe. In India, beyond consistently providing support for the Indian contingent to the Asian Games and Olympics over the years, we have instituted the 'Scholarship Program' with the objective of nurturing and developing Indian sporting talent.
Mr. Shin also said that "Encouraged by the success of our ‘Olympic Ratna' program at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, this year we have increased the number of athletes being supported for the Asian Games to 10 sports persons. Our association with the Asian Games to support the Indian contingent and these top performing athletes is our contribution to enriching the sporting culture in the country".
The 10 Indian athletes who have been chosen to be part of the program are Abhinav Bindra, Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Gagan Narang, Ranjan Sodhi, Vijender Singh Beniwal, Akhil Kumar, Nanao Singh Thakchom, Mayengbam Suranjoy Singh, Sushil Kumar and Ramesh Kumar.
Samsung ‘Sports Ratna' program is in line with the Samsung ‘Olympic Ratna' program carried out by the company for the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, wherein the company had supported top ranking athletes across individual sports disciplines with their training expenses while preparing for the games.
