Bhubaneswar (Odisha), May 2, 2025: Bringing pride to Odisha’s tribal heartland, Jhuli Munda, an emerging archery protégé from Kalahandi district, has clinched a bronze medal in the Under-17 category for the state at the prestigious Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav Tribal Archery Meet 2025, held recently in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Supported and mentored under Vedanta Aluminium’s community sports development programme, Jhuli’s achievement stands as a shining example of the immense potential nurtured within rural and tribal communities when given access to opportunity and training.
The national-level tournament, organised by the Archery Association of India, witnessed the participation of over 400 tribal youth athletes from across the country, competing in multiple disciplines of traditional and modern archery. Amidst such tough competition, Jhuli’s stellar performance and her ability to remain composed under pressure earned widespread appreciation from coaches and spectators alike. Her victory has brought immense pride not only to Odisha but also to her home district of Kalahandi, which is fast emerging as a cradle of grassroots sporting talent.
Having trained rigorously under Vedanta Aluminium’s sports initiative for the past three years, Jhuli’s journey is a remarkable story of perseverance and mentorship. Her sporting record already includes one national representation, four state-level representations, and four medals at various state championships — an impressive feat for a young athlete still in her teens.
Expressing his joy over Jhuli’s success, Mr. Rajiv Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Vedanta Aluminium, said, “Jhuli’s remarkable achievement is a testament to the extraordinary talent and determination that thrive within our communities. We are immensely proud of her success and remain committed to empowering many more young talents to reach their full potential. Sports are not just about winning medals; they are about building confidence, discipline, and leadership — values that create a stronger and more resilient society.”
He further added, “At Vedanta Aluminium, our focus extends beyond industrial excellence. We are deeply committed to the holistic development of the communities we operate in. By nurturing sporting talents like Jhuli, we aim to inspire a new generation of youth from Kalahandi to dream big and excel on national and international platforms.”
The Vedanta Sports Training Initiative, launched in 2018 at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district, has been instrumental in identifying and grooming young sports talents from underserved communities. The programme offers structured coaching in archery, karate, and other sports disciplines, with access to professional equipment, sports gear, and expert-led training sessions. Over the years, the initiative has trained more than 100 young archers, many of whom have gone on to represent Odisha at state and national levels, collectively securing over 40 medals in various championships last year alone.
Jhuli’s success at the Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav reaffirms the programme’s impact and Vedanta Aluminium’s enduring commitment to empowering rural youth through sports, education, and skill development — paving the way for Kalahandi to emerge as a hub of sporting excellence.
