Face-to-Face: Vivek Sharma Highlights Support for India’s Olympic Athletes Through OGQ

CAMBRIDGE, MA—In an exclusive video interview with INDIA New England News’ Face-toFace, Boston-area entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist Vivek Sharma spoke about the growing commitment of Indian Americans to support India’s Olympic athletes through Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Indian athletes and para-athletes achieve excellence on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

Sharma, who serves on the Board of OGQ, discussed how the Indian diaspora in the United States—and particularly in Greater Boston—is increasingly stepping forward to support India’s pursuit of Olympic success. He emphasized the importance of providing athletes with access to world-class coaching, training, equipment, sports science, and international competition opportunities, enabling them to compete with the best athletes in the world.

To watch the full video interview with Vivek Sharma, please click on the video below or visit INDIA New England News.

As part of these efforts, Sharma hosted a special reception for an OGQ delegation last month at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The event brought together community leaders, business executives, sports enthusiasts, and supporters of Indian athletics to learn more about OGQ’s mission and impact.

Founded with the goal of helping India win Olympic and Paralympic medals, OGQ has become one of the country’s most influential sports-support organizations. Four of India’s five individual medal winners at the Paris Olympics were supported by OGQ, including Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh, Swapnil Kusale, and Aman Sehrawat.

During the interview, Sharma highlighted the role that Indian Americans can play in strengthening India’s athletic ecosystem and helping promising athletes realize their Olympic dreams. He noted that archery is among the sports receiving increasing attention and support as India seeks to expand its medal prospects in future Olympic Games, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

One of the highlights of the Cambridge reception was an engaging question-and-answer session with chess legend Viswanathan Anand, widely regarded as India’s greatest chess player and one of the most accomplished players in the history of the game.

Anand became India’s first Grandmaster in 1988 and went on to become the 15th undisputed World Chess Champion. Renowned for his speed, precision, and remarkable longevity, he held the unified world championship title from 2007 to 2013 and successfully defended it multiple times. Beyond his individual achievements, Anand is credited with inspiring a chess revolution in India, paving the way for generations of Indian grandmasters and helping establish India as a global chess powerhouse. Even decades into his illustrious career, Anand remains one of the sport’s most respected ambassadors and influential figures.

The reception underscored the growing partnership between India’s sports ecosystem and the Indian diaspora, demonstrating how philanthropy, community engagement, and strategic support can help Indian athletes compete at the highest international level.

Vivek Sharma is an executive chairman, board member, investor, and philanthropist based in the Boston area. He brings more than 30 years of global operational experience, including over two decades in private equity, chief executive officer, and board leadership roles. Throughout his career, Sharma has led enterprise turnarounds, organizational transformations, and growth initiatives that have helped global businesses achieve sustainable, scalable, and profitable growth. In addition to his corporate leadership responsibilities, he serves on the Board of OGQ and is actively involved in supporting India’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes while strengthening engagement with the Indian diaspora in the United States.