Mumbai, Pune, Nov 04: Sixteen-year-old Dhinidhi Desinghu has won India’s first ever swimming medal at the Youth Olympic Games, taking bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle at Dakar 2026 in a national record time of 56.27 seconds. Bajaj Finserv, which backs the Bengaluru swimmer, called it a win that belongs to the whole country.
Once scared of the water, Dhinidhi has grown into one of India’s finest swimmers. At 14, she was the youngest member of India’s contingent at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In Monday’s final in Dakar, she set a new national record, finishing behind Croatia’s Ana Bobanović, who won gold in 55.89 seconds, and New Zealand’s Alyssa Lawson, who took silver in 56.13 seconds. She also became the first Indian female swimmer to reach a Youth Olympic swimming final.
Bajaj Finserv announced its support for Dhinidhi earlier this year, well before the podium, as part of its long-term commitment to nurturing India’s next generation of sporting talent. The partnership goes beyond conventional sponsorship, supporting training, competition exposure, equipment, fitness and recovery. The association was facilitated by sports talent management company, Baseline Ventures.
Manav Mianwal, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Bajaj Finserv Ltd. & President – Digital Platforms, Bajaj Finance Ltd., said:
“Dhinidhi’s historic bronze is a proud moment for India and an inspiration for every young athlete who dares to dream big. Behind this medal are years of hard work, sacrifice and extraordinary determination. Her achievement shows that Indian talent can compete with the best in the world when individual talent is matched with collective support. At Bajaj Finserv, we believe champions must be supported long before they reach the podium. We are proud to be part of Dhinidhi’s journey and congratulate her, her family and coaches on this remarkable milestone. We look forward to standing by her as she pursues even greater achievements for India.”
Behind every medal is individual grit and resolve, backed by people who show up for the athlete every single day. That coming together is what Bajaj Finserv means by its purpose of mobilising collective will. While a handful of sports in India attract widespread attention and resources, many talented young athletes lack the support needed to realise their full potential. By backing them early in their careers, Bajaj Finserv aims to ease the financial burden on families, enable athletes to focus on their development and encourage more young Indians to pursue competitive sport.
Backing India’s next generation of sporting champions
Dhinidhi is the first of several swimmers Bajaj Finserv plans to support as part of its long-term commitment to swimming, badminton and tennis. The company is also backing a growing pool of young badminton players. In tennis, through its partnership with Tamil Nadu Tennis Association, it supports four promising players: Diya Ramesh (ranked No. 3), Deepshika Vinayagamurthy (No. 4), Savitha Bhuvaneswaran (No. 5) and Sree Syleswari Velmanikandan (No. 19).
Across these sports, Bajaj Finserv’s support focuses on helping young athletes access quality coaching, training facilities, competition opportunities, equipment, nutrition and fitness support, as well as travel and accommodation.
Dhinidhi’s historic medal is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when talent, determination and sustained support come together. She is one of a new generation of Indians writing the story of a new Bharat, and Bajaj Finserv is proud to stand with them.
