Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) has increased its financial support for Indian athletes to ₹77 crore in 2024-25, surpassing the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) budget of ₹34.8 crore. This rise in private-sector funding, driven by corporate partnerships and philanthropy, is becoming a key pillar for India's sporting success as the nation eyes the 2036 Olympic Games.
Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), a non-profit foundation established by sports legends Geet Sethi and Prakash Padukone, has significantly expanded its role in shaping India's sporting landscape. In the 2024-25 period, the organization’s financial commitment to athletes reached ₹77 crore, a figure that now exceeds the ₹34.8 crore allocated by the government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). While OGQ is a Section 8 non-profit organization and not a listed company, its financial model provides vital insights into how private capital is filling the gaps in national sports development.
The organization’s funding model is entirely dependent on private donations, corporate partnerships, and philanthropic contributions. Over the last five years, the number of donors supporting OGQ has more than doubled, reaching 390. Corporate backing has been particularly strong, with major organizations including Axis Bank, Bajaj Group, HDFC Group, HCL Group, Zerodha, and Delhivery contributing significantly. The shift is most visible in the high-tier donation segment, where contributions of ₹1 crore and above grew from 12 in the 2020-21 period to 31 in 2025-26.
This influx of private money is crucial for Indian sports, where national federations often struggle with limited budgets to support grassroots training, sports science, and international travel. As India builds momentum toward its ambition of hosting the 2036 Olympics, the role of such non-profits has become more pronounced. Data shows that OGQ-supported athletes have consistently delivered results, with 13 of India's 21 Olympic medalists and 33 of its 48 Paralympic medalists in recent Games having received backing from the foundation.
Unlike traditional commercial investments, OGQ operates on a model where over 85% of its income is funneled directly into athlete welfare, including professional fees, equipment, and coaching. This focus on operational efficiency has helped the organization scale its support to 178 senior athletes and 110 junior scholars, in addition to para-athletes and various sports academies.
For those tracking the broader sports economy, the success of this model highlights the growing importance of CSR and private philanthropy in achieving national sporting goals. The primary monitorables for the future will be the ability of such non-profits to maintain donation momentum and the ongoing sustainability of the funding pipeline as the demand for elite-level training resources continues to rise in preparation for future international events.