Bhubaneswar, 25 July 2025 – In a proud moment for Odisha’s Kalahandi district, young archer Khirod Kumar has won two gold medals and a bronze at the CBSE East Zonal Archery Championship held in Kolkata. Competing in the Under-19 Indian Round category, Khirod impressed audiences and judges alike with his unwavering focus and stellar accuracy.
A product of the Vedanta Aluminium Archery Training Initiative, Khirod has been training under the programme for the last three years. His performance adds to an already impressive record, which includes five gold medals at the National School Archery Championship.
Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO of Vedanta Alumina Business, applauded Khirod’s success, stating: “His achievements stand as a testament to the impact of our grassroots sports programmes. At Vedanta, we aim to build confidence, discipline, and pride among rural youth through sports. Khirod’s dedication is truly inspiring.”
Launched in 2018, Vedanta’s Sports Training Initiative supports promising athletes from underserved communities by offering professional coaching in archery and athletics, along with access to equipment and competition opportunities. Over 100 young archers have been trained so far, with 40 medals won in state and national events in just the last year.
Vedanta Aluminium continues to lead efforts in nurturing sporting talent in rural India, driving both personal and regional development while enhancing the nation’s sports profile globally.
