The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
LANJIGARH (ODISHA), APRIL 24, 2025
In a resounding stride towards empowering grassroots sporting talent, Vedanta Aluminium has announced the expansion of its archery training initiative in Odisha’s Kalahandi district, targeting the grooming of over 80 budding tribal archers. The ambitious move will see Olympian Rahul Banerjee, one of India’s most decorated archers, step in as chief mentor, lending his expertise and vision to sharpen the skills of the region’s latent talents.
This pioneering collaboration underscores Vedanta’s unwavering commitment to socio-economic upliftment through sport, by nurturing local youth and channeling their potential onto national and global arenas. Since its inception in 2018, Vedanta’s archery program in Lanjigarh has become a beacon of hope for the tribal communities, especially for aspiring sportspersons with limited access to resources.
Rahul Banerjee, who has represented India in over 50 international events and clinched a Commonwealth Games gold medal, expressed his optimism about the region’s raw talent.
“Kalahandi is replete with promising archers. With structured training and support, these young talents have the capability to rise to global prominence,” he said, expressing enthusiasm about shaping the next generation of champions.
Echoing the sentiment, Rajiv Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, emphasized the transformative power of sports. “Sports are catalysts for social change. Our partnership with an icon like Rahul Banerjee exemplifies our dedication to nurturing grassroots talent and driving community development,” he stated during the announcement event.
So far, the initiative has already borne impressive results. More than 100 local youths have been trained under the program, with participants securing over 40 medals in 2024 at state and national championships. These achievements not only highlight the sporting potential of the region but also reflect the success of Vedanta’s holistic model — providing expert coaching, training infrastructure, kits, and a strong support ecosystem.
With this fresh push and Olympic-level mentorship, Vedanta’s archery initiative is all set to aim higher, empowering tribal youth to dream big, shoot straight, and make their mark on the world stage.
