Lakshya launches city chapter

MUMBAI: Lakshya, a Pune-based NGO that identifies and nurtures sporting talent, launched its Mumbai chapter on Thursday. Lakshya has a Mumbai representative in under-19 national badminton champion, Harshil Dani.
The 17-year-old has been taken under Lakshya's wings only recently. Besides Pune, it currently has operations in Nashik, Kolhapur, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara.
Lakshya at present supports sportspersons from six disciplines – shooting, boxing, tennis, badminton, cricket and chess. The organisation plans to help at least 12 athletes to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics, after five of its supported players made it through to the London Games.
Started three years ago, it supports over 50 players, including Rahi Sarnobat (shooting), V Diju (badminton), Ashwini Ponappa (badminton), Jwala Gutta (badminton)and Jai Bhagwan (boxing), who qualified for the London Olympics.