Bhubaneswar, Apr 30: Tribal archery protégé Jhuli Munda, hailing from Kalahandi district, has secured a bronze medal for Odisha in the Under-17 category at the prestigious Janjatiya Khel Mahotsav Tribal Archery Meet 2025, held recently in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

The tournament, organized by the Archery Association of India, witnessed participation from 400 young tribal athletes across the country. Jhuli’s victory has carved a niche of immense pride for Odisha’s tribal sporting community, reflecting the potential of grassroots initiatives in nurturing young talent.

Jhuli has been training under Vedanta Aluminium’s community sports programme for the past three years, which has provided her with professional coaching, top-tier equipment, and expert-led mentorship. With a national representation, four state-level representations, and four state medals to her name, she continues to excel as one of the rising stars in tribal sports.

Speaking on her success, Vedanta Aluminium’s CEO, Rajiv Kumar, expressed his joy, stating, "Jhuli's achievement is a testament to the incredible talent within our communities. Vedanta is committed to enabling young athletes to shine on national platforms and fostering sustainable development through sports."

Vedanta Aluminium’s Sports Training Initiative in Lanjigarh, which began in 2018, has been instrumental in nurturing sporting talent from underserved communities. The programme offers coaching in archery, karate, and other sports, along with quality equipment and expert mentorship. To date, over 100 young archers have been trained, securing more than 40 medals at state and national championships in the past year alone.

Jhuli’s victory is an inspiring reminder of how focused training and support can unlock hidden potential, paving the way for promising athletes to compete at national and international levels.

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