Khirod Kumar and Omkar Majhi from Kalahandi bagged medals at the zonal-level competition.
Kalahandi| YNN: Supported by Vedanta Lanjigarh, India’s premier producer of smelter-grade alumina and a unit of Vedanta Aluminium, two young archers from Kalahandi, Khirod Kumar and Omkar Majhi, have won gold and silver medals respectively at the CBSE Archery Championship 2024, held at Raipur. The young archers participated in the east zonal-level competition alongside more than 200 exceptional performers.
Khirod Kumar and Omkar Majhi have been training under the Vedanta Sports Initiative for the past three years. This initiative aims to nurture young talent from rural communities by creating a holistic sporting ecosystem that includes support with comprehensive training opportunities, team uniforms, advanced equipment, and access to sponsorship for various competitions. These opportunities have enabled the program’s participants to qualify for major championship events. Since its launch in 2018, Vedanta Sports Initiative has trained over 100 archers, with 50% of these being girls. Between them, they have won over 40 medals collectively, while more than 20 athletes have had the honour of representing Odisha at national-level championships.
Reaffirming the company’s dedication to nurture budding sportspersons, Mr. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO – Alumina Business, Vedanta Ltd said, “It is a moment of immense pride to witness the remarkable achievements of our young athletes, many of whom have persevered against adverse socio-economic circumstances to make a mark in the world of sports. Kalahandi, known for its rich socio-cultural heritage, is also home to exceptional youth who demonstrate incredible sportsmanship. As a company actively creating opportunities for the development of rural youth, we are also contributing to the larger vision of producing world-class athletes who can represent India on the global stage.”
Vedanta Aluminium is committed to nurturing young talent, particularly from underserved communities across rural India. Through the Vedanta Sports Initiative, the company has trained over 500 youth in sports like archery, hockey and football. In addition, Vedanta Aluminium’s various social impact initiatives have positively impacted more than 500 villages, benefiting 4.5 lakh people in the region. These efforts span livelihood, education, healthcare, infrastructure, grassroots sports, and cultural development. Aligned with our chairman’s vision, our flagship Nand Ghar project has established around 531 modern anganwadis, dedicated to women’s and children’s development in rural Odisha.
