Supporting female athletes with long-term goals: Rashesh

Besides their own talent, hardwork and dedication, the success of female athletes like Dipa Karmarkar, hailing from smaller regions, have been due to corporate support. Edelweiss Financial Services supports a group of female athletes like pugilist Mary Kom, gymnast Dipa Karmakar and shooter Heena Sidhu.

Edelweiss Chairman-CEO Rashesh Shah and his wife Vidya Shah share  a passion for running. Rashesh has participated in around 30 half marathons, six full marathons and learnt to swim only four years ago to participate in triathlons all over the world. Vidya has participated in many half marathons.

Their love for sports and fitness promoted the Mumbai based company to get more closely involved in promoting Olympic sports in the country. Edelweiss is now the official sponsor of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and also the Indian contingent for the the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, starting on August 18.

Vidya, who also heads the philanthropic arm EdelGive Foundation, has been working closely with the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ). In an interview with us, the 54-year-old Rashesh shared his views on his passion for running and supporting athletes.

Excerpts

What keeps you going on the roads?
Long-distance running has helped me stay focused despite many adversities. When I first started training for races, I realised just how important it is to stay driven and patient while executing any activity successfully. Preparing for a marathon is in itself a big project, and consequently, it hones your managerial and business skills and helps in managing stress. There is a sense of commitment. Long-distance running also acts as a therapeutic technique for me.

What according to you is the scenario of long distance running in Mumbai?
A lot is happening, but I believe that we can still do a lot more. I would like to see everyone make running a part of their fitness regime. Being a runner has helped me become a more balanced individual and a better entrepreneur.

Edelweiss Financial Services has supported female pugilist like Mary Kom in a cricket crazy country. Any particular thought process behind investing on such athletes?
There is lot of focus on cricket in this country, but other sports are starting to grow and becoming very popular. I can also see a lot of potential in these athletes to succeed at the highest level if they get the right kind of support system like their counterparts in other countries. These athletes have to undergo a lot of trials and tribulations, and have already beaten a lot of adverse conditions to get to a certain distance. Their stories and their struggle are very inspiring. We realised that if they don’t get the support they need, they might not be able to truly reach their zenith.

You are from a sector where everything is about investing in companies. How do you see a value in investing in sports?
At Edelweiss, we have always appreciated the need to invest back into the  society. A lot of this has been driven through EdelGive. Sports is another avenue which we identified to be closer to our hearts and have involved ourselves wholeheartedly through multiple forums, be it our investment through OGQ or our sponsorship of the Indian contingent for the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and then the 2020 Olympics.

How far is EdelGive Foundation’s association with OGQ?
EdelGive has been supporting Olympic Gold Quest since 2009 with a mission to assist potential Olympic medal prospects achieve their dreams of winning a medal in the Olympics. When Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) first came to see us, non-cricket sports received very little support. And there was even less for women athletes. We decided to take up that as a cause by supporting them with funds, training, nutrition, physiotherapy, mental wellness coaching and such. Today, we are preparing athletes for not just the 2020 Olympics, but also creating a pipeline for 2024 by working with teenage girls. The focus, as always, is the quest for the Olympic Gold. EdelGive’s first funding was for MC Mary Kom, and since then, EdelGive has been supporting other athletes like PV Sindhu, Ayonika Paul, Annuraj Singh, Pooja Ghatkar, etc.

Is the outlook of corporate companies changing towards sports?
Sports evoke a lot of passion. Corporates have also realised that they have a responsibility towards nurturing this passion and helping it grow. While many Indian corporate have actively been involved in CSR across the board, they have now started acknowledging that sports is also an important avenue that needs the right push.