This Olympic partnership is an opportunity to showcase our company’s commitment to community service, social responsibility, environmental stewardship and sustainability— all tenets of the Olympic Charter and the International Olympic Committee’s Agenda 2020 that mirror Bridgestone’s core values. For over 80 years, Bridgestone has been dedicated to helping customers on their journeys with a passion and innovation delivering reliability, safety and performance. And, from 2014 as an official Worldwide Olympic Partner, we are proudly supporting athletes the world over on their journey to the Olympic Games.

Sindhu is among the world’s leading professional badminton players who recently earned a silver medal at the World Badminton Championship in Glasgow. The Padma Shri recipient became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver medal at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. Sindhu’s Olympic medal established her as the first Indian shuttler to reach the final of an Olympic Games badminton event and the youngest Indian to make a podium finish in an individual event at the Olympics.

Lalita Babar is the current Indian national record holder in 3000 Metre Steeplechase. Lalita belongs to Satara, a small district of Maharashtra, which was often affected with droughts and did not provide adequate infrastructure. She won her first Gold Medal at the young age of 17, in the U-20 National Championship in 2005. During the 2015 Asian Championships, Lalita simultaneously broke her personal record, Indian record and the game record with a timing of 9:34.13. She is the recipient of Sports person of the Year Award (2015), an honour extended by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India.

Srikanth Kidambi is the first Indian Badminton player to win a Super Series Premier Men’s title (2014). He currently holds the No. 3 spot in World rankings. Srikanth started his professional career by winning 2 medals at the Commonwealth Games. In 2015, Srikanth won a gold at the Swiss Open Grand prix Gold by defeating Viktor Axelsen 21-15, 12-21, 21-14 and became the first Indian male player to have won a gold at the event. Currently hailed as the best male badminton player of the country, Srikanth was awarded with Padma Shri in 2018.

Mary Kom is a five time world champion in boxing, an achievement that defines her as one of the best women boxers across the world. She was the only Indian woman boxer to qualify for the Olympic Games London 2012, where she earned a Bronze for the country. Being drawn to sports from the very beginning, Mary was inspired to make a career in boxing after the glorious win of Manipuri boxer Dingko Singh in 1998. She has been awarded with Padma Bhushan (2013), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2009) Padma Shri (2006), and Arjuna Award (2003) for her contribution to sports and has been a source of inspiration to many.

Sakshi Malik is the first female wrestler of the country to win a medal (bronze) at the Olympic Games Rio 2016. Sakshi’s grandfather, who was also a wrestler, inspired her to take up the sport and she began training since the young age of 12. She won her first bronze medal at the Junior World Championship (2010) in the 58 Kg Freestyle event and it fuelled her passion to excel. Sakshi qualified for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 by defeating China’s Zhang Lan. She went on to win a bronze medal at the event with a masterful victory of 8-5 against Aisuluu Tynybekova from Kyrgyzstan. Currently employed in the Indian railways, Sakshi was promoted to Gazetted Officer rank for her victory in Rio 2016.