Bhubaneswar: As India celebrates National Sports Day under the 2026 theme ‘Khelega Bharat, Jeetega Bharat’, reinforcing the values of participation, fitness and sporting excellence, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, is strengthening the nation’s sporting ecosystem through grassroots initiatives that nurture talent from rural communities across Odisha and Chhattisgarh. From archery and athletics in Kalahandi to karate and judo in Jharsuguda, Odisha to multi-sport academies in Korba, Chhattisgarh, the company’s initiatives are expanding access to quality training, competitive exposure and sporting opportunities for young people across its areas of operations.
Guided by the belief that sport can be a powerful catalyst for individual and community development, Vedanta Aluminium has built a growing sports ecosystem that encourages participation, nurtures talent and promotes excellence. The impact of these efforts is increasingly visible in the achievements of young athletes emerging from its programmes. In Lanjigarh, the company’s Archery Training Programme has benefited over 300 youth, with more than 50 athletes representing the region at national-level competitions.
Among its recent success stories is young archer Khirod Kumar, who won three gold medals in the Under-19 category at the CBSE Far East Zonal Archery Championship 2026 while competing against 437 athletes from 11 states. A multi-medal winner at zonal and national competitions, Khirod has also qualified for the CBSE National Championship, alongside fellow trainee Onkar Majhi, underscoring the programme’s role in nurturing sporting talent from rural Odisha.
Marking the special occasion, Rajesh Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium said,”The sporting talent prevalent among youths across rural India is phenomenal, and through structured coaching, scientific training methods and access to quality equipment, we are transforming that potential into performance. Our initiatives are not just nurturing sportsmanship; they are opening doors to opportunities, discipline and self-belief. I believe the next national champion can rise from here.”
In Jharsuguda, the Vedanta Martial Arts Training Centre has emerged as a hub for competitive excellence, currently training 124 students, including a dedicated batch of 40 women, in karate and judo. In FY26 alone, its athletes secured 44 medals (9 gold, 14 silver and 21 bronze) across tournaments including the East Zone Karate Championship, Odisha SQAY Championship, 3rd National Karate Championship and the National Grappling-Wrestling Championship at Bilaspur.
The centre also organised a two-day grappling training camp for 56 students, conducted a Belt Promotion Examination for 150 participants, and delivered martial arts workshops across 11 schools, reaching more than 1,000 students. Marking National Sports Day, Vedanta Aluminium is also promoting a culture of active living through a badminton tournament for employees and their family members, encouraging wider participation in sports and fitness.
In Chhattisgarh, BALCO’s flagship Khel Academy, established under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korba Municipal Corporation and the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, currently supports over 100 athletes from Korba, Durg, Bilaspur and Raipur across football, volleyball, basketball and swimming. The program providing access to modern infrastructure, certified coaches, sports science support, medical and physiotherapy care, balanced nutrition and residential facilities for boys and girls. Today, Khel Academy athletes are making their mark at state and national-level competitions, reinforcing BALCO’s commitment to strengthening grassroots sports.
Under Project Sampark, the company’s coal mines have enabled the participation of over 2,600 youth in local and state-level sporting events, while promoting active lifestyles through community tournaments. Marking National Sports Day this year, sports engagement activities were organised across Jamkhani and Kuraloi, including the distribution of sports kits to youth clubs and schools, as well as badminton and carrom competitions benefiting nearly 200 children and young people. These efforts build on a sustained legacy of reaching more than 3,800 youth and children in the region through the distribution of 24 sports kits and support for 10+ sporting tournaments over the years.
From producing national and state-level achievers in archery, karate and judo to supporting structured academy-based training and expanding grassroots participation in rural communities. The company was recently awarded with the CSR Times Award 2026 (Gold Category) for Project Arogya, presented by a Member of Parliament and the CEO of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA). As India accelerates toward its Khelo India goals and its ambition of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, Vedanta Aluminium remains steadfast in its belief that every young athlete it trains today is a step toward a healthier, stronger and more sporting nation.
