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Founders and Leadership

AthleteRise is built by individuals who have lived discipline, service, and sport—not just studied it.

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Our founders bring together experience from the Indian armed forces, elite sports coaching, national-level sports nutrition, and grassroots athlete development. AthleteRise is rooted in real-world understanding of what it takes to build athletes ethically, sustainably, and with long-term vision.

Founder

Commander Deepak Ahlawat
Founder | AthleteRise
Former Indian Naval Officer | Professional Triathlon Coach | USTA-Certified Tennis Coach

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AthleteRise was founded by a former Indian Naval officer whose life has been shaped by service to the nation, discipline, and sport.

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With over 21 years in the Indian Armed Forces, the founder developed values of integrity, resilience, leadership, and commitment—principles that continue to guide AthleteRise. Alongside military service, he represented the Indian Navy in chess, strengthening strategic thinking and mental resilience, and actively participated in football, hockey, and water polo, gaining early exposure to team sport dynamics and competitive environments.

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After military service, he transitioned into professional sports coaching, working across endurance and skill-based disciplines, including triathlon and tennis. His own athletic journey included ultramarathons, open-water sea swimming, and Ironman competitions, culminating in participation at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. These experiences provided deep insight into long-term training, recovery, nutrition, and the psychological demands of sustained performance.

During this journey, the founder experienced a complete ligament tear, requiring surgery and prolonged rehabilitation. This setback reinforced the importance of patience, ethical training, and structured recovery, before he successfully returned to endurance sport.

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Through coaching and lived experience, he repeatedly witnessed talented young athletes stepping away from sport—not due to lack of ability, but because of financial constraints, limited guidance, and lack of early-stage support.

Now based in the United States, the founder continues to engage deeply in sport as a coach, athlete, and parent supporting his own child’s competitive journey. This combined perspective informs AthleteRise’s mission to build an ethical, patient, and athlete-first platform, grounded in real-world experience rather than theory.

Co-Founder & Head of Sports Nutrition

Dr Deepika Ahlawat
Co-Founder | Sports Nutrition & Athlete Development
National Food & Sports Nutritionist | Formerly associated with Sports Authority of India (SAI)

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The co-founder of AthleteRise is a National Food & Sports Nutritionist with extensive experience working at the highest levels of Indian sport.

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She has been associated with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and has worked closely with India’s National Boxing Team and National Wrestling Team. Her expertise spans performance nutrition, recovery strategies, athlete health, and long-term development—particularly within high-pressure competitive environments.

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Having worked within India’s national sports ecosystem, she brings deep insight into both elite-level requirements and the systemic challenges faced by athletes at the grassroots and developmental stages. Her experience ensures that AthleteRise remains grounded in scientific, ethical, and athlete-first principles.

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At AthleteRise, she leads the vision for responsible athlete support, ensuring that nutrition, recovery, and holistic well-being remain central to any form of assistance provided through the platform.

Advisory Board & Leadership Council (in Development)

Leadership & Advisory Growth

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As AthleteRise grows, the leadership team plans to formally onboard national-level athletes, coaches, sports psychologists, and mentors into an advisory capacity. These relationships will be built gradually and transparently, ensuring that credibility, ethics, and athlete welfare remain central to every decision.

Our Principles

  • Athlete-first decision making

  • Integrity, transparency, and accountability

  • Long-term development over short-term results

  • Respect for families, coaches, and existing systems

  • Responsible growth guided by ethics and evidence

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These principles guide every decision at AthleteRise — today and as the platform grows.

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