Anand Mahindra, the Chairperson of Mahindra and Mahindra, has been known for his generous gesture of gifting Mahindra SUVs to various sports personalities, Olympians, and Indian athletes who have excelled in global competitions or made significant contributions to the nation.
This act of appreciation and encouragement has garnered widespread praise. Recently, Anand Mahindra extended this gesture by offering a Mahindra Thar to the father of cricketer Sarfaraz Khan, who made his debut in the Indian cricket team's test squad.
One notable recipient is Neeraj Chopra, the gold medalist in the Javelin throw at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Mahindra presented him with a specially customized 'Gold' edition of the Mahindra XUV700 as a token of gratitude for his record-breaking performance. The customized XUV700 features a distinctive midnight blue color with subtle golden accents and a side fender displaying the badge "87.58," representing the distance achieved in his remarkable Javelin throw.
Similarly, Paralympic medalist Avani Lekhara received the 'Gold' edition of the Mahindra XUV700 after her outstanding performance at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Avani secured a gold medal in the Women’s 10 m Air Rifle event and a bronze medal in the 50 m Air Rifle event. The custom-designed XUV700 includes a unique powered seat with forward and return functionalities, enhancing comfort for the co-driver.
Deepa Malik, another Paralympic champion, played a crucial role in the development of the wheelchair-accessible version of the Mahindra XUV700. She received a customized XUV700 as a token of appreciation, featuring modifications like an electronically controlled swiveling front seat for improved usability.
Other esteemed athletes who received Mahindra vehicles as gifts include Olympic medalists P.V. Sindhu and Sakshi Malik, who secured Silver and Bronze medals, respectively, at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Both athletes were honored with Mahindra Thar SUVs for their remarkable achievements.
Indian sprinter Dutee Chand, who participated in the women’s 100m sprint event at the Rio Olympics 2016, was awarded a Mahindra XUV500 for her contribution to athletics. Badminton player Srikanth Kidambi, winner of the Australian Open Super Series 2017, received a Mahindra TUV300 SUV.
In a special recognition for the Indian cricket team's success in the Gabba series against Australia in 2021, six debutant cricketers—Mohammad Siraj, T Natarajan, Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, and Navdeep Saini—were gifted Mahindra Thars.
Anand Mahindra's consistent effort to acknowledge and reward athletes for their exceptional achievements reflects his commitment to supporting and motivating individuals who bring pride to the nation through their sporting endeavors. The act of gifting Mahindra vehicles serves as a symbol of appreciation and encouragement for these sports personalities, creating a positive impact on the broader sports community.