Bokaro: Kuldeep Mahato, a promising young archer from the Vedanta ESL Archery Academy, delivered an exceptional performance at the State Selection Trials held at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur on 14 December. The 10th-grade student from High School, Bijulia, hails from the village of Budhibinor in Siyaljori Panchayat and trains under the expert guidance of Head Coach Budeshwar Murmu.
Kuldeep made a remarkable impact in his first-ever state-level trials, scoring 697 out of 720 points and securing second place. His impressive performance earned him a spot on the Jharkhand state team for the upcoming 41st NTPC Sub-Junior National Archery Championship, scheduled to take place in Jaipur, Rajasthan, from January 3 to 10, 2025.
Vedanta ESL Archery Academy, established in 2020 by ESL Steel Limited as part of its ongoing commitment to community development and sports promotion, has been instrumental in shaping young talent like Kuldeep. The state-of-the-art academy, located within the Vedanta ESL plant in Siyaljori, provides aspiring archers from rural Bokaro with the resources and guidance they need to excel in the sport.
Since its inception, the academy has achieved remarkable success, with its students securing a total of 185 medals in National, State, and District-level competitions. The academy has also hosted two major events, offering valuable exposure to its students while continually improving its medal count each year.
Kuldeep’s journey in archery began in September 2022 when he joined the Vedanta ESL Archery Academy. Since then, he has consistently performed well in competitions, earning several accolades and recognition for his skills. He also won four medals at the Vedanta Challenge Trophy, an inter-district archery tournament, further establishing himself as a rising star in the sport.
Kunal Daripa, Head of CSR at ESL Steel Limited, expressed pride in Kuldeep’s success. “Kuldeep is a standout archer from our Vedanta ESL Archery Academy, and he has shown exceptional talent and potential with his remarkable performance at the State Selection Trials. Our vision at ESL Steel Limited is to empower young talent like Kuldeep by providing them with the resources and training they need to succeed.”
He further added, “Kuldeep’s achievement reflects our commitment to nurturing future champions through the Vedanta ESL Archery Academy. We aim to discover and develop more talent from Bokaro, showcasing the immense potential this region has to offer.”
