Khelo India / Rising Star from Odisha: Anjali Munda Shines at Khelo India Tribal Games
·1 week ago·2 min read
Key Points
Growing up in Gahiragadiya village, Jajpur, Anjali first discovered swimming as a fun pastime. Today, she stands tall as a national champion, breaking Karnataka’s gold sweep.
Raipur, Mar 26: From splashing in village ponds to standing atop the podium at a national event, 15-year-old Anjali Munda has scripted a remarkable journey in Indian swimming.
Anjali, hailing from Gahiragadiya village in Odisha’s Jajpur district, discovered her love for water at the age of 11 when she casually chose swimming during a school sports class. With no formal training initially, she relied on her natural ease in the water. Her first breakthrough came with a silver medal at a local club tournament, which gave her the confidence to pursue the sport seriously.
Now a student at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Anjali has steadily risen through the ranks. Inspired by her elder sister, an archer, she embraced the opportunities provided by the Union Sports Ministry’s initiatives, particularly the ASMITA League (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action).
Her dedication bore fruit when she clinched two silver medals at the Khelo India ASMITA League in 2024 and followed it up with another pair of silvers at the East Zone Swimming League in Guwahati earlier this year.
The defining moment came at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 in Raipur, where Anjali clocked 2:39:02 in the 200m freestyle, securing her first national gold medal and preventing Karnataka from sweeping all six golds on the opening day.
Also Read: Odisha Women Retain Soccer Gold At Khelo India Beach Games 2026
“This gold is special, but I’m not fully satisfied. I wanted to beat my personal best of 2:25. I’ll keep working hard to achieve that in upcoming events,” Anjali said with determination.
Looking ahead, the young swimmer has set her sights on excelling in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, and 200m individual medley, aiming to break personal records and bring more glory to Odisha.
Anjali’s journey from a tribal village to the national stage is a testament to how grassroots initiatives and sheer perseverance can create champions.
Anjali, hailing from Gahiragadiya village in Odisha’s Jajpur district, discovered her love for water at the age of 11 when she casually chose swimming during a school sports class. With no formal training initially, she relied on her natural ease in the water. Her first breakthrough came with a silver medal at a local club tournament, which gave her the confidence to pursue the sport seriously.
Now a student at the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Anjali has steadily risen through the ranks. Inspired by her elder sister, an archer, she embraced the opportunities provided by the Union Sports Ministry’s initiatives, particularly the ASMITA League (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women Through Action).
Her dedication bore fruit when she clinched two silver medals at the Khelo India ASMITA League in 2024 and followed it up with another pair of silvers at the East Zone Swimming League in Guwahati earlier this year.
The defining moment came at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 in Raipur, where Anjali clocked 2:39:02 in the 200m freestyle, securing her first national gold medal and preventing Karnataka from sweeping all six golds on the opening day.
Also Read: Odisha Women Retain Soccer Gold At Khelo India Beach Games 2026
“This gold is special, but I’m not fully satisfied. I wanted to beat my personal best of 2:25. I’ll keep working hard to achieve that in upcoming events,” Anjali said with determination.
Looking ahead, the young swimmer has set her sights on excelling in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, and 200m individual medley, aiming to break personal records and bring more glory to Odisha.
Anjali’s journey from a tribal village to the national stage is a testament to how grassroots initiatives and sheer perseverance can create champions.
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