Adani Foundation Initiative Helps Six Rural Archers Secure Selection in State-Level Sports Academies
Six months of free residential training opens new avenues for young athletes; 15 talented players selected from 157 children
RAIPUR/SURGUJA : Rural and tribal areas are rich in talent, but young people need the right opportunities, resources and guidance to realise their potential. An initiative by the Adani Foundation has translated this vision into reality, providing six young archers from Chhattisgarh with an opportunity to advance their sporting careers. Six players associated with an archery training programme conducted under the Foundation’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative have been selected for reputed archery and sports training academies in the State. The achievement, within just six months of training, marks a significant milestone in promoting rural sporting talent.
Launched in Salhi village in November 2025, the programme is being implemented by Shri Services under the corporate social responsibility initiative of ATMSL. A total of 157 children from various villages in the project area had expressed interest in archery training. Based on their talent, 15 children were selected, comprising eight girls and seven boys. The selected players were provided free residential training, modern sports equipment, technical instruction and guidance from expert coaches.
The results of the training became evident a few months ago during a State-level selection trial held at Swami Vivekananda Stadium in Kota, Raipur. Five players were selected for the Residential Archery Sports Academy at the State Archery Centre in Raipur, which operates under the Chhattisgarh Government’s Department of Sports and Youth Welfare. Another player secured a place at the Late B.R. Yadav State Sports Training Centre in Bahतरai, Bilaspur.
The selected players are Mahima Singh from Ghatbarra village, Anjali Kusro from Salhi village, Dileshwar Shyam from Basen village, Anshu Varkade from Hariharpur village, Satyam Tirkey from Tara village and Priyanshu Vishwakarma from Fatehpur village.
The selection of six players for reputed sports institutions demonstrates that children from rural and tribal areas can establish a strong presence in the sporting world when provided with appropriate training, better resources and sustained encouragement. Their selection to State-level academies will enable them to receive advanced training and develop their abilities for higher-level competitions.
A representative of the Adani Foundation said that promoting sporting talent in rural and tribal areas was among the organisation’s priorities. The children had performed well within a short period, the representative said, adding that efforts to provide opportunities and appropriate guidance to talented youngsters would continue.
The Adani Foundation works towards the overall development of communities through initiatives in education, healthcare, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, sports and basic community infrastructure. The achievement of the archery training programme is an important step in these efforts to provide opportunities to local talent and help young athletes reach new heights.
