Bhubaneswar: Sweta Rani Mahanta of the Jindal Sports Hostel was felicitated on Monday by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for clinching the bronze medal in the 48 kg category at the 12th Asian Junior Wushu Championship held in China.
The felicitation took place during the closing ceremony of the 64th Senior Men’s Inter-District Football Championship Final for the Sahani Cup at Keonjhar Stadium.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Majhi expressed his pride over the achievement, stating that the success of a girl from the tribal-dominated Keonjhar district is a matter of great pride for the entire region.
A visibly elated Sweta expressed her gratitude to the Jindal Foundation and its Chairperson, Shallu Jindal, for their continuous support.
“I thank the Jindal Sports Hostel for nurturing my talent and providing the training and facilities that helped me achieve this success,” she said.
Commenting on the achievement, Shallu Jindal said, “We are immensely proud of Sweta’s bronze medal win. Her dedication, combined with structured support, is a testament to the potential of rural and tribal talent. The Jindal Foundation remains committed to nurturing young athletes through holistic support in training, education, and exposure.”
Under Shallu Jindal’s leadership, the Jindal Foundation—the social arm of Jindal Steel—is actively engaged in the development of sports, health, agriculture, and culture in the region. The Jindal Sports Hostel was established to identify and support promising sports talent in Keonjhar and nearby areas.
Sweta is among several athletes from the hostel who have earned accolades internationally. Alongside teammates Prem, Rajkumar, Bablu, and Manju Munda, she is part of a group that has brought home ten medals from events held in Moscow, Brunei, and Brazil. This marks Sweta’s fourth international medal.
Prashant Hota, President and Group Head (CSR) of Jindal Steel, added, “In line with our Chairman Naveen Jindal’s vision and under the guidance of Shallu Jindal, we are working at the grassroots level to prepare young Indian athletes for global platforms like the Olympics. We also appreciate the support of the Wushu Association of Odisha and Keonjhar district administration.”
Currently, over 40,000 rural and tribal youth across India are engaged in sports initiatives supported by the Foundation, including martial arts, football, hockey, kabaddi, kho-kho, archery, and cricket. The Foundation continues to play a key role in transforming raw potential into sporting excellence.
