KalingaTV News Network
Barbil: Seven budding Judo talents of the state, who have been supported by Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) here in Odisha, have been selected to participate in the National Judo Championship scheduled to be held in Warangal in Telangana starting from next month.
The national championship in sub junior category will be held from September 30 to October 04. The team includes Babulu Munda, Krishna Khandayat and Raju Sinku in the boys’ category, while Sumitra Munda, SapnaTopno, Kamala Munda and Mukta Munda will represent the state in the girls category.
In the recently concluded Open State Judo Championship in Sambalpur, theses seven kids won gold medals in their respective categories.
Besides, an 11-member Sub-junior team, including the seven had claimed ‘Runners Up’ trophy in the Sambalpur event organised by Shaolin Kung Fu Wushu Association on August 12 and 13. The others of the team who won medals in the tournament are Sanjeeb Naik (Silver), Gurucharan Munda (Bronze) and Dipu Mahakud (Bronze). Jashoda Purty was awarded with Silver medal in the two-day long tournament.
This apart, in the Cadet Boys category, Ramesh Munda won Bronze while Manju Munda won Silver in Cadet Girls category of the event in which 525 participants from 17 districts of the State had participated. In the Junior Men and Women category, Gura Munda and Reena Banara won Silver and Bronze medals, respectively.
Pankaj Kumar Mahanta has been the coach of the 27-member team while Purandar Giri was the team manager.
Congratulating the team, EVP & Unit Head G. Suresha wished all success to the team for the national championship.
“Grooming the ethnic and rural sports is one of the core focus areas of JSPL Foundation. Over the years, it has been promoting sports persons in hockey, archery, women’s football, kick boxing and kabaddi in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, who have excelled in the sports arena at the state and national levels,” said Prashant Kumar Hota, Group Head (CSR & Education), JSPL.
JSPL Foundation has been supporting tribal youths from Barbil for learning and practicing Kick-Boxing, judo and Wushu by providing all infrastructure and coaching facilities. These talents have also participated in many national level championships and brought laurels for the state.
Ms Kalinga