Mumbai: Bajaj Finserv Ltd. has announced its foray into swimming by signing up Dhinidhi Desinghu, the 16-year-old swimming sensation who was the youngest member of India’s contingent at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Dhinidhi Desinghu is India’s top-ranked swimmer and holds national records in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events.
Bajaj Finserv has identified swimming, tennis, badminton and running as key focus areas as it expands its investments in sports.
The company plans to invest in player development programmes, scouting and the mobilisation of resources across the sporting ecosystem.
The company said it will invest in these sports at the formative stage, where support can shape the trajectory of the sport as well as the careers of athletes.
At the centre of the plan is Bajaj Finserv’s purpose of mobilising collective will by activating, organising and directing the shared motivation, energy and determination of groups towards a common goal.
Through these investments, Bajaj Finserv aims to elevate the landscape of swimming and other emerging sports in India. The company said the story of one athlete taking India to the world stage can inspire many more to take up the sport.
According to Bajaj Finserv, access to the right resources at the right time can help elevate the prestige associated with sports and contribute to the emergence of a new generation of Indian athletes.
Dhinidhi Desinghu’s Journey in Swimming
Dhinidhi Desinghu’s journey began in Bengaluru, where she started swimming at the age of six. She subsequently rose through India’s junior swimming ranks under coach Nihar Ameen.
At the age of 14, Dhinidhi Desinghu made her Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games. Since then, her progress has continued, including a strong performance at the 2025 National Games, where she won 11 medals, including nine gold medals.
Dhinidhi Desinghu currently holds national records in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events. Since the Paris Olympics, she has improved her own 200m freestyle record from 2:04.24 to 2:01.81.
Bajaj Finserv said Dhinidhi Desinghu has her most important years ahead and believes she can become one of the defining names in Indian swimming over the next decade.
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Bajaj Finserv on Supporting Young Athletes
Manav Mianwal, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Bajaj Finserv Ltd. and President – Digital Platforms, Bajaj Finance Ltd., said: “Great sporting journeys are built long before the podium. Dhinidhi has represented India at the Olympics and made a splash in world aquatics, showing what young Indian athletes can achieve.
The most meaningful time to invest in an athlete is when talent and ambition are visible, but the road ahead still needs sustained support. We want to be there during those formative years, not only in moments of victory.
He added: “Our intent is to go beyond associating with sporting success and to help create it. By backing young athletes in disciplines that have traditionally received inadequate support, we hope to build a wider ecosystem of support and inspire more young Indians to believe that pursuing excellence in sport can be a real possibility.”
Dhinidhi Desinghu on the Partnership
Dhinidhi Desinghu said: “I am extremely grateful to the Bajaj Finserv team for believing in me and supporting me at this stage of my journey. I’m still at the very beginning of my career, and having the support of a brand that believes in my potential gives me a lot of confidence and motivation.
I want to achieve a lot in swimming by working hard, continuing to learn and represent India at the highest stages. I’m thankful to Bajaj Finserv for choosing to be part of my journey and for backing my dreams from this early stage.”
Dhinidhi Desinghu’s parents said: “As parents, watching Dhinidhi grow from a young swimmer into an Olympian has already been a proud journey for her. Having the right people and organizations believe in her and support her ambitions means a lot to our family.
Bajaj Finserv’s decision to support Dhinidhi at such a young age gives her the confidence and backing to focus on her training and development and also continuing to chase bigger dreams. We are extremely grateful for their trust in her potential and look forward to this journey together.”
Baseline Ventures on Supporting Dhinidhi Desinghu
Ramakrishnan R, Co-Founder, Baseline Ventures, said: “Indian sport needs more long-term corporate support, especially for athletes in the early stages of their careers and especially for sports that do not have great commercial visibility.
We are incredibly grateful to work with organizations like Bajaj Finserv who recognize Dhinidhi’s potential and, more importantly, choose to support her vision and believe in her talent at this formative stage of her journey.
“Dhinidhi is a promising athlete, and there is still a long road ahead but the right support at this stage can play an important role in shaping her development and will go a long way in building her confidence.
“We look forward to working closely with the Bajaj Finserv team and supporting Dhinidhi as she continues to grow, compete and pursue her dreams on the global stage.”
Dhinidhi Desinghu at a Glance
- Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Women’s 200m freestyle, heat timing of 2:06.96; youngest member of India’s contingent
- 2024 World Aquatics Championships, Doha: 200m freestyle and mixed medley relay
- Asian Games, Hangzhou: Youngest Indian athlete in the contingent
- National Games: Seven gold medals in 2023; nine gold medals and 11 medals in 2025
- National records: 100m freestyle – 56.57; 200m freestyle – 2:01.81; 400m freestyle – 4:21.56
- Other competitions: Asian Age Group Championships in the Philippines and Malaysia, Singapore Open Championships and Mare Nostrum Tour
Bajaj Finserv’s Wider Sports Investment Plan
Bajaj Finserv’s engagement with swimming is part of its wider focus on sports that have international potential but may have limited access to sustained commercial backing.
The company said India’s sporting opportunity extends beyond the handful of disciplines that receive mainstream attention and sponsorship.
According to Bajaj Finserv, many young athletes compete in sports with international potential but have limited access to long-term commercial support.
The company aims to help address this gap by identifying promising talent early, enabling individual sporting journeys and building a deeper pipeline of Indian athletes prepared to compete on the world stage.
With Dhinidhi Desinghu, Bajaj Finserv is expanding this approach into swimming while also identifying tennis, badminton and running as key areas for its sports investments.
