An eight member contingent of Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir will conduct demonstrations and coaching of the traditional Indian sport of Mallakhamb at the India House in Paris during the Olympic games.
The team from Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir consists of Riddhi Dalvi and Samartha Patil who are regular students practicing Mallakhamb. The other 4 students are Komal Patil and Venkatesh Mandadi who are 75 % visually impaired while Anjali Tapal and Ajay Lalwani are 100% visually impaired. The contingent that will be led by Padma Shri Uday Deshpande, Hon. Secretary & Chief Coach and Dr. Mrs Neeta Tatke as the Coach.
The President of the International Olympic Association (IOC), Mr. Thomas Bach had visited India in October 2023 where the IOC, in collaboration with the Olympic Museum and Reliance Foundation, signed a new agreement to expand the Olympic Values Education Programme. Encouraged by Mrs Nita Ambani and Reliance Foundation, the team from Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir performed Mallakhamb at Reliance Corporate Park in Ghansoli where other modern and traditional sports such as gully cricket and Kho-Kho were also showcased.
The Mallakhamb group stood out and was selected to perform at the country house -India House-conceptualised by the Reliance Foundation and the Indian Olympic Association. The house will commemorate 100 years since India first participated in Olympics. The house will also showcase the nation’s sports, music, culinary specialities and experiences such as Yoga, music and dance forms.
The contingent from the Vyayamshala will leave on the 25th July and will be a highlight at the Paris Olympics India House.