Bhubaneswar, Sept 12: In a remarkable stride for grassroots sports development, 21 young archers from Vedanta Aluminium’s flagship Sports Training Initiative in Lanjigarh have qualified for the prestigious 26th Odisha State Open Archery Meet 2025.

The qualifiers—12 boys and 9 girls—emerged from district-level trials held at SSD School, Lanjigarh, organized by the Kalahandi Athletic Association with Vedanta’s active support.

The trials saw 40 archers compete across Indian Round, Compound, and Recurve categories, showcasing the growing talent pool in Kalahandi district. Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has been instrumental in nurturing these athletes through its comprehensive sports programme launched in 2018. The initiative provides professional coaching, modern equipment, nutritional support, and logistical aid to aspiring athletes from underserved communities.

Currently, 80 students are enrolled in archery and athletics training under the programme, which has already trained over 300 youth. The results speak volumes: in FY 2024–25 alone, trainees bagged 37 medals at state-level events, earned over 20 national representations, and clinched a national medal at the second Jan Jatiya Khel Mahotsav 2024.

Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, CEO of Vedanta Alumina Business, expressed pride in the achievement, stating, “This is a proud moment for Kalahandi. It shows how focused training and the right support can unlock immense potential. We aim to build a strong platform for rural youth to shine at higher levels.”

Beyond archery, Vedanta’s commitment to social impact spans multiple disciplines including hockey, karate, and football, with over 500 youth trained. Its broader initiatives have touched 4.5 lakh lives across 500 villages in Odisha, encompassing education, health, infrastructure, and cultural development. Through its Nand Ghar project, Vedanta has also modernized 531 anganwadis, advancing women and child welfare across the state.

As the 26th Odisha State Open Archery Meet approaches, the spotlight turns to these 21 young athletes—symbols of resilience, opportunity, and the transformative power of grassroots sports.

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