Six months of free residential training transforms sporting prospects; 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 provided six young archers from Chhattisgarh with a new opportunity to advance in sports. Six players associated with an archery training programme run under the Foundation’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative have been selected for the State’s reputed archery and sports training academies. The achievement, within just six months of training, marks a significant step towards 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 sporting equipment, technical instruction and guidance from expert coaches.
The positive 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 identity in the sporting world when provided with appropriate training, better resources and sustained encouragement. Their selection to State-level academies will give them access to advanced training and help them develop their abilities for higher-level competitions.
A representative of the Adani Foundation said promoting sporting talent in rural and tribal areas was among the organisation’s priorities. The children had performed well in a short period, the representative said, adding that efforts to provide opportunities and proper guidance to talented youngsters would continue.
The Adani Foundation works towards the overall development of communities through various initiatives in education, healthcare, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, sports and basic community infrastructure. The achievement of the archery training programme is another important step in these efforts to provide opportunities to local talent and help young athletes reach new heights.
