OUR SPORTS INITIATIVES - Vedanta Resources

OUR SPORTS INITIATIVES

Our community sports programmes strengthen

the unity as well as physical and mental health

Quarterly Magazine from Vedanta GroupPledging to Social good

Issue 5April-June 2019

Initiating and Nurturing Talent Vedanta Sesa Goa runs sports projects that inculcate a spirit of team work and discipline | 04

Rural Sports for Unity & Fitness BALCO’s rural sports forum brings the villages of Korba and Kawardha district together | 08

HZL Launches Zinc FootballA Holistic Programme for Grassroot Football Development | 11

ESL Promotes a Tribal SportESL’s archery school identifies, nurtures, handholds and trains local talent | 15

Sport at the Community LevelVedanta Jharsuguda organises sports tournaments in peripheral villages of the company’s operational areas | 18

Giving Athletes a Headstart Promoting sports through various initiatives is an activity that Cairn Oil and Gas undertakes with pride | 20

Fostering Sports TalentKonkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM) is one of the most distinguished sports sponsors in Zambia | 24

Providing a Platform for Local Talent to BloomVedanta Lanjigarh inculcates healthy competition and a spirit of team work | 27

Sports Initiatives at the International level

Skorpion Zinc (SZ) supports Namibia’s aspiring football players through its sports development initiative | 30

Getting Successin the Long Run

Running has helped Rashmi Mohanty imbibe attributes that assist her in

her work | 34

Creating Ecological Awareness

M Kumaran generates awareness about conserving water bodies and the ecosystem around us | 35

Contents Issue 5 | April-June 2019

Chairman’s MessageThe youth of a country represent her present and the hope

on which her tomorrow is built. It is imperative to inculcate strong values in our youth, to help them become responsible

citizens, who will contribute to India’s growth story.

Alongside traditional education, pursuing creative interests like liberal arts, music and sports, not only helps individuals develop holistic personalities but also presents exciting career opportunities.

Playing sports from a young age contributes to our physical and mental fitness. It blurs the lines of caste, gender and race by becoming a common unifier. Sport gives youth an opportunity to learn together and build camaraderie amongst themselves. Sports unify communities and nations.

I strongly believe that India will reach its full potential when youth lead the way for development. We at Vedanta, are committed towards providing our youth, especially women across strata, with the best-in-class sports facilities in order to bring them to the national forefront. I am pleased that Vedanta sports academies are not only nurturing sports talent from rural areas but also encouraging young girls to take up sports.

Sport gives youth an opportunity to learn together and build camaraderie amongst themselves. Sports unify communities and nations

anil agarwalChairmanVedanta Resources PLC

4 Issue 5 | April-June 2019

Vedanta has always put forth sports as an important activity for the youth and children. Sports is unbiased towards gender, caste or race and unites people while simultaneously improving their physical and mental health.

SESA FooTBALL ACAdEMy Initiating and Nurturing Talent

5Issue 5 | April-June 2019

The Sesa Football Academy (SFA) was established in June 1999 in Virdi, Sankhali, Goa, on a rehabilitated mine. SFA has since then churned out 140 footballers

donning national and international jerseys. In 2017, eight of SFA’s graduates were selected to play for the prestigious Indian Super League 2017-18 season.

SFA Provides:• Four years of free residential football training• Nutrition and boarding• Education in local schools and colleges• Modern gym facilities• International coaches• Two residential coaches at each campus

Students are also given orientation in sports medicine, physiological assessment and physiotherapy. SFA is honored to have the Arjuna Awardee and ex-international footballer, Bramhanand Shankhwalkar as the Chief Mentor of the Academy.

Six of SFA’s boys have represented India internationally and many others are pursuing their careers in football with major clubs. Alumni such as Mickey Fernandes, Rowilson Rodrigues, Denzil Franco and Adil Ahmed Khan have gone on to represent India at various international competitions.

The aspiration to provide a launching pad for professional footballers facing a dearth of opportunities in competitive football led to the formation of another Academy in 2008. The senior team represented the


Union Sports Minister visits Sesa Football academyColonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, former Minister of State (Independent Charge) Youth Affairs and Sports, was the special guest at an event organised by the Sesa Football Academy (SFA) at the Sankhali Campus in Goa. He was accompanied by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Goa, Pramod Sawant as well as Annanya Agarwal, President of the Vedanta Football Project.

On his maiden visit to the Academy, Colonel Rathore emphasised the need for stronger alignment with private academies in India and said, “Hopefully we will very soon be recognising Sesa Football Academy as a partner in Khelo India. My team will come here and see the infrastructure and the training that is happening.”

Annanya Agarwal, President of Vedanta Football Project said, “It will be an honour to support government initiatives like Khelo India and we will be extending all possible support to our young athletes. At Vedanta, we want to take Indian football forward

and remain committed to the upliftment of football at the grass roots level.”

Colonel Rathore honoured Bosco Monteiro, Nicholas Pereira, Salvador Fernandes and Issac D’Souza – former players of the Sesa Goa Football Club.

The Minister was full of praise for the impressive effort put in by the Vedanta Group to build the SFA. “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for me to be here in this place which would normally be a mine bereft of any green leaves. But it’s amazing to see the sort of work that Vedanta has done to convert the

mines into the lovely forest that is here.”“This is a great example to the rest

of the country and it’s also an example that mining can co-exist with environmental protection,” he added.

Speaking on the efforts of the Vedanta Group to support women’s football, Colonel Rathore said, “It’s also wonderful to see that a Vedanta Women’s Football League has been started here. I would love to see these girls play for India and I would love India

to dominate the world with our girls.”


Season Two of the Vedanta Women’s League concluded amidst a glittering ceremony with Panjim Footballers being crowned champions

champions in the 2nd edition of Vedanta women’s leagueAfter four months of thrilling football, filled with plenty of action and surprising results, Season Two of the Vedanta Women’s League concluded amidst a glittering ceremony with Panjim Footballers being crowned champions for the second consecutive time.

The League was organised in association with the Goa Football Association at Sesa Football Academy’s Sirsaim campus. Panjim Footballers topped the table with 25 points followed by runners-up Goan Football Club who grabbed 24 points while Churchill Brothers Sports Club finished third with 22 points.

Academy in the Goa Professional League, alongside giants such as Dempo SC, Salgaocar SC, Churchill Bros. SC, Sporting Club de Goa, etc., and also participated in the prestigious 2nd Division I-League organised by All India Football Federation besides various other AIFF Tournaments.

In 2014, Sesa Football Academy striker, Chukwudi Chukwuma, signed a four-year deal with FK Teplice, a top division club playing in the Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga. This was the first time that a player from any Indian football academy had secured a professional contract. In 2017, Vedanta relaunched its National Academy at Sirsaim Goa. Twenty two youngsters from across the country and Zambia are part of the 2017 batch. The group now aims to build on the legacy of the academy and coach budding players in football from across the nation as well as Africa.

Vedanta Women’s Football LeagueTaking forward the commitment and passion to nurture the girl child through various initiatives, Vedanta launched the ‘Vedanta Women’s Football League’ in November 2017 with the support of the Goa Football Association. The league was inaugurated by the former Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar in the presence of eminent women football legends.

Vedanta created history through this first-of-its-kind league by providing women footballers with a prominent platform on which to showcase their talent and skills. About 137 women footballers hailing from different parts of Goa participated in this league through six teams and

turned it into a grand success. In 2018, the event witnessed participation from eight teams comprising of 160 footballers from across Goa.

Vedanta Football SchoolsThrough the Vedanta Football School initiative, the company aims to reach out to the community and nurture football talent between the ages of 6 to 14. The initiative will not only

help in inculcating sports skills, but also develop team spirit and healthy habits in children. The future aim is to increase the reach of this initiative in the community by way of establishing a network of training centres and community coaches across the state. Four centres of Vedanta Football Schools at Sirsaim, Sanguem, Nuvem and Majorda are currently running in Goa. And there are plans to expand it to other parts of Goa and Karnataka.

BALCo’sRural Sports for Unity, Wellness and overall Fitness

Sports is one of the most engaging exercises for the physical and mental well-being of all human beings. It not only inculcates a sense of healthy competitiveness and a spirit of teamwork in participants but also helps those with busy schedules to feel refreshed and energised.

Outdoor sports like football, cricket, kabaddi etc., help people stay physically fit and feel relaxed whereas indoor games like carrom, sudoku and puzzles help

increase their levels of concentration. Vedanta encourages playing sports not only for the

physical and mental well-being of people but also to bring them together and strengthen unity through teamwork and sportsmanship. Sport remains unbiased towards gender, caste or race and hence it unites people while improving their physical and mental wellness at the same time.

Keeping in line with the Vedanta group philosophy, Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources, situated in Korba, Chhattisgarh, initiated a rural sports forum to create a platform that brings the various villages of Korba and Kawardha district together. This initiative helps the physical and mental fitness levels of people and unites them while providing a source of entertainment in their lives.

Rural sports also provide a way to identify the hidden sports gems of Korba and Kawardha. Various sports like kabaddi, short put, 100 m sprint, matka race, archery, musical chairs, long jump etc., are played where both men and women from all ages actively take part thoroughly enjoying themselves. These sports activities provide a unique platform to strengthen bonds amongst villagers.

BALCO's rural sports forum provides a platform that serves to bring the various villages of Korba and Kawardha district together



Twenty five villages from Korba and Kawardha region take part in this rural sports fest. The villages include Dondro, Bela, Kesalpur, Sanjay Nagar, Bela Kacchar, Sangam Nagar, Kalash Nagar, Bhadra Para, Dugga Para, Rukhbara, Lalghat, Jambhav, Parsabhata, Belgari Basti, Shanti Nagar, Nehru Nagar, Sonpuri, Sanguda, Chuhiya, Bundeli, Kacchar, Narbada, Kesalpuri and Risda. Approximately 250 to 300 villagers participate in this rural sports festival that is held in winter in the month of January in both Korba and Kawardha.

BALCO’s motto of giving back to society for its development, advancement and improvement drives the company in undertaking such projects. Since its inception BALCO has always strived towards making remarkable advancements in the field of community development and rural sports is one such initiative where the company has been successful in imparting the importance of sports for unity, wellness and overall fitness.


With country’s first-ever “technology & data hinged football training”, Zinc football will support grassroots football in the country to take Indian football to the next level

A Holistic Programme for Grassroot Football development

The timely intervention of technology and data-driven analysis can help grassroots football in the country and subsequently take Indian football to the next level. It

is with this belief that Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company, has embarked on a massive grassroots programme – ‘Zinc Football’, as part of their social investment programmes and initiatives.

Zinc Football is a one-of-its-kind football development initiative, at the core of which is a full-fledged residential academy in Zawar, Udaipur with world-class facilities and the country’s first ever ‘technology-led football training’ – the unique F-Cube

a Proud Father“I felt very proud after I saw my daughter receive a medal. I never thought that I would be sitting in the audience cheering her one day. I truly am the proudest father today. I thank Zinc Football for their noble initiative in giving my daughter a platform on which to perform.”

narendra Menariaabout his daughter, nidhi Menaria

HZL Launches Zinc Football

Zinc Football is a one-of-its-kind football development initiative, at the core of which is a full-fledged residential academy

the Football academy’s women coachesMonika and Nirmala started playing football in school. A mid-fielder, who has played for the India under-18 team, Nirmala began playing football in 2008 when she was in class VI. Monika, her classmate and a goalkeeper – started the game in class VIII. Both women come from villages near Hisar in Haryana and were part of the Haryana team that came third in the 21st Senior Women’s National Football Championship held in Punjab. After completing the All India Football Federation ‘D’ license course they have now chosen to be football coaches.

Anyone near the Zawar Football Stadium at around 4.30 pm can witness children – girls in the age group of 8 to 12 years – with their football kits, walking towards the stadium in groups of four or five. They are part of a group of about 60 girls that Monika and Nirmala

coach as part of the community outreach programme of HZL Football Academy, HZL’s flagship CSR initiative.

The project aims to set up 64 Community Football Centres in select neighbourhoods across HZL operations. Started together with the Zinc Football League to give the young players a taste of much-needed match practice, this residential programme is designed for highly talented players where students will attain formal education while receiving football training from world class coaches.

In just six months

technology. In addition, Zinc Football will also have a massive outreach programme to impart football coaching to over 2,000 boys and girls, delivered by fully skilled football trainers through 64 community football centres – Zinc Football Schools – across Rajasthan. The initiative aims to contribute to the development of Indian football while leveraging the power of the world’s most loved sport to impact lives and ensure the social upliftment of women and children.

The academy, which features a fully-equipped residential hostel, has identified its first batch of 30 extremely talented young boys under the age group of 14, handpicked among 4,500+ aspirants through various scouting camps held over the past year. The company will groom them into professional footballers while taking care of their formal education by providing them with the opportunities and right guidance.


turning adversity to opportunityHow often do we see tragedy become motivation for a young kid? Well, the story of 14-year-old Ladu Lal Jatiya is one of those rare stories. Ladu from Naya Dariba lost his father to a sudden heart attack almost a year ago. His father dreamt of becoming a footballer but poverty and lack of resources deterred him from following his ambition. After his demise, Ladu decided to make his father’s dream his own.

Ladu has a genuine love for football, which he has inherited from his father who would take him to their neighbour’s home which was one of the few households that owned a television, to watch football matches every weekend.

Ladu is now more determined than ever. He wakes at the first light of dawn, gets on his bicycle and rides for around six km to reach the Zinc Football School in Dariba. Mentored by the School’s licensed football coaches, Ladu now has the opportunity and resources to learn the game. An indicator of his devotion is that ever since the start of the programme Ladu has not missed a single session. His passion has also become a beacon of hope for his family. Every morning his mother Tipu Bai, eagerly waits for her son to return from training with a glass of milk in her hand. And even though she does not know a lot about football, she believes that her son’s determination and Zinc Football’s support will propel him to fulfil her husband’s dream.

time, the girls coached by Monika and Nirmala came third in their open competition for under-14 girls where they played against senior (above-18) teams held in Jaipur. When asked about their dreams, both coaches have the same answer – they want the teams that they coach to play and win in national and international competitions. Playing at a young age with parental support, the girls are becoming more confident about themselves.

The past few months have been full of learning for both coaches. Nirmala agrees when Monika says, “Hum bhi to gaon ke bachchi the,” (We are also girls who grew up in villages). The coaches even go to talk to the teachers and the girls about playing football. “Koi teacher mana karte hai to unko bar bar jaakar haan karate hai’,” (If a

teacher says no to girls playing football then we visit the school repeatedly till s/he says yes). Clearly both of them love this challenge.


F-Cube – India’s First ‘Technology-Hinged Football Evaluation Tool’F-Cube is a holistic technology-driven, sports, health and fitness platform, which was developed to analyse the six basic skills required in football — dribbling, passing, heading, shooting, trapping and tackling. This revolutionary software is used at the Zinc Football Academy to monitor and enhance players’ performances.

F-Cube has a customised training curriculum under which every player’s response time, endurance, hand-eye coordination, communication, physical classification, foot-eye coordination, memory, agility, accuracy, among others, is reviewed and recorded. Unlike traditional training methods, F-Cube focuses on digital engagement and gamification to retain the interest of players.

The software can capture videos that enables remote access to player performance. Experts can scrutinise a player’s gameplay and provide inputs to assist in his/her improvement. It helps in creating a standardised test to identify talent while developing players’ mental and physical attributes. This adaptive approach customises itself thus enabling it to cater to different players – helping in their constant growth.

By using this highly advanced technology, two kinds of assessment reports can be generated — quantitative and qualitative. While a quantitative report that indicates the areas where a player excels and where he can improve is generated automatically by the device, a qualitative report is created by the player’s coach based on the video generated by the F-Cube machine.

on the way to achieving His dreamsBorn in the Godda district of Jharkhand, 13-year-old Sandeep Marandi is as football-crazy as they come. Sandeep dreamt of wearing the Indian National Team jersey and representing India at the FIFA World Cup ever since he was a child. But his football dreams started taking shape about a year ago at the Rajasthan Under-14 State Championship Final match held in Bundi district where his brilliant performance was noticed by the Zinc Football scouting team.

Today, the defender is one of the most promising players at the Academy and has qualified to wear the captain's armband for the team. Zinc Football Head Coach, Suresh Kataria says, “Looking at Sandeep’s dedication, he has a very bright future. He brings about a level of maturity in the practice sessions and is definitely the most improved player in our Academy.”

The teenager misses his mother Premlata who is all by herself back home as his father, a constable with the Jharkhand Police, was transferred to Ranchi a few years ago. Remembering his school days in Kota Sandeep says, “I had my first shot with football while I was in Class V. Before that my friends and I used to play with our own makeshift balls made out of sundry things like socks, plastic bags etc. Today, I am happy to train and learn new techniques under the coaches at the Zinc Football Academy. My only dream is to represent India and make my parents proud.”


ESL’s state-of-the-art archery school will be promoted as a Talent Identification Centre and will be affiliated to Khelo India, a central government-sponsored scheme, ensuring a PPP model to work at the Bokaro district level.

ESLPromotes a Tribal Sport at the dronachcharya Archery School


Hunting is integral to tribal life in Jharkhand. The culture and practice of hunting has been integrated with one of the most popular and traditional sports

in Jharkhand, archery. In recent times the state has produced many international players like Deepika Kumari, World No 1; Madumita Kumari, Asian Games silver medalist; Jayanta Talukdar, Laxmi Rani Majhi and Reena Kumari. The government of Jharkhand has also taken initiatives to promote archery among the local children and teenagers especially those coming from rural areas.

ESL aims to develop a state-of-the-art archery school – the ESL Dronacharya Archery School, which will identify, nurture, handhold and train local talent and provide them with an opportunity to hone their skills in the discipline. They will get an opportunity to compete for the Khelo India Scholarship and represent their state and country at national level competitions.

Khelo India, a central government-sponsored scheme, intends to select top-line sportspersons every year under the age of 17 across various disciplines through tournaments at various levels. After selection, these players will receive special scholarships and training assistance to help them prepare for various international meets.

The School will be promoted as a Talent Identification Centre and will be affiliated to Khelo

India ensuring a PPP model to work at the Bokaro district level. Some 34 sports centres across the country have received similar accreditation with annual renewability. Any player chosen under this scheme can opt for a coaching centre of his/her choice. A Khelo India sportsperson is given `10,000 per month as a stipend and `5 lakh a year for equipment. Food and stay at the training centre is free.

Player scholarships are valid for eight years subject to annual performance reviews. Low performers are weeded out but can get selected again after undergoing the same process.

For an academy, a Khelo India accreditation ensures that funds to develop its students would be routed through the centre of excellence. The infusion of funds will also help an academy to upgrade its infrastructure.

To promote this sport and talent in nearby villages of the plant area, ESL started a grass root Coaching


Centre in the month of April 2018. At present, the coaching centre is running in Maitra Krira Sthal, 16 Khata Campus near the plant arena. The ground is maintained by ESL to nurture talent.

Budding archers from local villages, especially in the tribal dominated belt from Bhagabandha village to Asansol Village, Chas and Chandankiyari Block, Jharkhand have won maximum berths in the ESL-promoted Archery School in Bokaro.

The new cadets joined the school in April 2018. Coach Kenaram Hansda, a tribal from Sindhri and a former national level archer, has been appointed to train students. Scouting initiatives were organised across the villages with over 39 participants and 20 players shortlisted from the lot. According to the coach, the selected archers were promising and their shooting skills, grip and stance would improve further during their stint at the school.

Training is conducted from 3 pm to 5 pm daily after trainees come back from school. The students belong to far-flung areas hence practice time available is limited. ESL plans to start a day boarding facility that will ensure education, nutrition supplements, physical training and skill training under the same roof.

ESL Football AcademyIn India, grass root football programmes for youth are rare. Five out of 10 school dropouts in Jharkhand are forced into child labour. A grass roots football project has been designed to extend beyond football in order to help in the battle against child labour and to arrest school dropout rates. This is an integrated programme that ensures a formal education, nutritional food and skill development in sports for the youth.

ESL Vedanta aims to form a group of youth who would work as catalysts so as to bring about change in the community and the aim that ESL Vedanta is working towards is to develop holistic personalities. An integrated approach will ensure that sports and education together bring behavioural changes in children.

Football is a traditional sport in Jharkhand and is played with rigour and passion at the village level and in order to promote this sport in and around the villages of the plant area, ESL started a coaching camp in the month of June 2018. At present the camp is at a nascent stage.

Three scouting camps have been organised in the villages near the plant and over 100 students, aged between eight and14, participated in selection trials. Finally 16 football players were shortlisted for further training.

To develop good health in the rural youth is of prime importance as most of them cannot afford to have two square meals every day. However their level of energy and zeal to play are astonishing. Consequently ESL’s prime focus is on improving the health of these youth while simultaneously developing their skills during the coaching camp.

A grass roots football project has been designed in order to help in the battle against child labour and to arrest school dropout rates


To promote sports among the youth, Vedanta Limited at Jharsuguda regularly organises cricket and football tournaments in the peripheral villages of the company’s operational areas. These tournaments have witnessed highly enthusiastic participation from the community.

JHARSUGUdACommunity Sport Witnesses Great Enthusiasm

Vedanta Cup, T-10 Cricket Tournament in KatikelaThe Vedanta Cup T-10 Cricket tournament was held in Katikela from 22 to 25 December 2018. A total of eight teams from Jharsuguda and the nearby districts participated in the tournament. The tournament comprised of three stages – quarter final, semi-final and final and saw tough competition among the teams. A friendly match was also held between Vedanta employees and villagers of Katikela.

Football Tournament at R&R ColonyA football tournament was held at the R&R Colony between 18 and 22 October 2018. A total of 32 teams participated with enthusiasm and zeal. The MLA of Jharsuguda, Naba Kishore Das was the Chief Guest at the event. After a tough competition between participants, the Jharsuguda team was declared winner of the tournament.

Kurebaga Cricket TournamentOn the request of community members, Vedanta organised a cricket tournament between 6 and 12

December 2018. The tournament witnessed the participation of 16 teams and was graced by the presence of Naba Kishore Das, MLA of Jharsuguda, who was the Chief Guest. The Hirma Team was declared winners of the tournament and was awarded a cash prize of `11,000. Team Talabida who were the runners up were awarded a sum of `6,000.


Given the large number of sports enthusiasts and marathon sprinters in the organisation, Cairn Oil & Gas takes pride in promoting sports activities and events through various initiatives.

CAIRNoil & GasGives Athletes A Head Start

The company supported the Indian National Hockey team in 2012. It also supported Indian para athletes and partnered with various annual marathon events.

The company’s association with Hockey India to co-sponsor the Indian National Hockey men’s and women’s teams in 2012, saw Cairn taking its first big step towards nurturing and growing sports both at the national and international levels. Cairn’s decision to associate with hockey was aimed at fuelling the resurgent interest in national sports amongst youngsters. Cairn was also the title sponsor of the Anna Hockey League 2014, Chennai and the Rajasthan Women’s Hockey Cup, 2014.

PRojECT DIVyAngCurrently Cairn supports Project Divyang where it helps three para athletes from Rajasthan in partnership with the Paralympic Committee of India. Paralympic Games develop equality, transform attitudes and help to increase inclusion by breaking down social barriers and discrimination towards people with impairment. Prior to the Rio Paralympics 2016, para athletes were barely recognised and did not get enough

assistance from the government, sports organisations or corporates. India’s successful outing in September 2016, where the country won 4 medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze) with Devendra Jhajharia breaking the world record, marked a shift in how the Indian para athlete fraternity was viewed.

While government appointed coaches are available in state run stadia, para athletes need funds for their sports kits, nutritious diet, physiotherapeutic treatment and exposure to tournaments at the domestic and international levels. This was when Cairn decided to step in and provide assistance to para athletes.in 2016.

Cairn has been supporting three high-potential para athletes from Rajasthan since 1 February 2017, through the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) under its Project Divyang initiative. PCI is the sole authorised organisation recognised by the International Paralympics Committee as well as the government for the promotion and development of para sports in India. The support from Cairn to selected para athletes is used towards and covers – specialised training and coaching; diet and nutrition supplements; physiotherapy and injury management; incentives for exceptional performances; athlete grants; sports


kits and equipment and exposure to domestic and international competitions.

Para athletes supported by Cairn have had many major achievements in their careers. For instance, Sundar Singh Gurjar, who comes from the Karauli District in Rajasthan and participates in the javelin (his primary event), discus and shot put throws has won 14 Gold medals, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal at various international events including winning the

a Para athelete par excellenceSundar Singh Gurjar, who comes from the Karauli district in Rajasthan, is a para athelete who takes part in the javelin, discus and shot put events with javelin being his primary focus. “I knew I wanted to go into sports since the very beginning. My father was a wrestler. I was never interested in studying and I even failed in my class X exams,” says Sundar who is a world record holder in javelin.

Sundar was one of the top contenders for the javelin throw at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. However, on the day of the event Sundar was disqualified due to a gross misunderstanding. Totally shattered, Sundar withdrew into a shell. It was around this time that Cairn partnered with the Paralympics Committee of India. Cairn’s commitment to support three para athletes from Rajasthan with a structured programme that included specialised training and coaching, physiotherapy, diet and nutrition supplements etc., helped Sundar regain his confidence.

Post the partnership with Cairn, Sundar participated in the 9th Fazza International Para Athletic Grand Prix 2017, where he won Gold medals in the javelin, discus and shot put events.

Subsequently, in the World Para Athletic Championship 2017 held in London, Sundar once again won a Gold medal in javelin. Thereafter, there was no looking back. Sundar won several Gold, Silver and Bromze medals in

the competition in which he participated.

Post his winning performance at the Asiad, he was felicitated by Prime

Minister Narendra Modi, who also tweeted

to congratulate him on this exemplary performance. He attributes his success to the support provided by Cairn over the past two years

and is grateful for their timely intervention.

Paralympic Games transform attitudes and help to increase inclusion by breaking down social barriers towards people with impairment


creating a championPara athelete Shatabdi Avasthi who comes from Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, always dreamt of joining the army. Her dreams however did not materialise due to an unfortunate accident that resulted in her breaking her spine. A quick venture into the field of social service followed before Shatabdi zeroed in on competing as a para athlete in the shot put category. Never having participated in any tournament prior to her association with PCI and its partnership with Cairn, she was happy that Cairn provided support with a structured programme. This included specialised training and coaching, physiotherapy, diet and nutrition supplements etc. Today Shatabdi competes in the shot put category with javelin and discus as secondary events.

Shatabdi has a few national and some international titles to her credit — Silver at the World Para Athletic Grand Prix in 2017 and a Bronze in the same competition in 2018. Shatabdi also represented India at the Asian Para Games 2018 held in Jakarta. “There is recognition. There are financial awards. But there are also times when we are looked down upon for being disabled. I don’t seek sympathy but it hurts when you see discrimination. This becomes more pronounced when we struggle due to the lack of accessibility to so many things,” says this now very confident girl as she expresses her gratitude to Cairn for all the support she received.

sole Gold medal for India in the World Para-Athletics Championship, London in 2017 and a Silver and a Bronze in the Asian Para Games 2018.

During the first Indian Open Para Athletics Championship held in Bengaluru in July 2018, Sundar went on to break the world record in javelin with a throw of 64.11 m, beating the previous record of 63.97 m set by Gold Medalist Devendra Jhajharia in the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Shatabdi Avasthi who comes from Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan and participates in shot put, javelin and discus events won 3 medals at various international level forums including a Silver medal during the 2017 Fazza Grand Prix, Dubai and a Bronze in the World

Grand Prix held in Berlin in June 2018.Another praiseworthy athlete, Sandeep Singh

Maan from Hanumangarh in Rajasthan competes in 100 m, 200 m and 400 m and is an Arjuna Awardee. Since his association with Cairn, Sandeep has won 10 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal at various reputed international events.

Since Cairn’s association with PCI began, para athletes have won 24 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze medals in internationally recognised events including the World Para Athletics Championship 2017 and Asian Para Games 2018, and secured a World Record in 2018.

CAIRn PInK CITy HALF MARATHonCairn also supports the Cairn Pink City Half Marathon in partnership with GT Health Care, supports the Airtel Delhi Marathon and is assisting in the construction


only promotes health and fitness among the youth but is also serves as a platform to spread social awareness on the importance of campaigns like Vedanta’s flagship programme – Nand Ghar and Cairn’s high impact initiative – Safe Drinking Water (JeevanAmrit) that were showcased during the 2017 event. Last year

highlighted the importance of Swatchh Bharat Abhiyan and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.

The event that features a half marathon race (21.097 km), Cool Run (10 km) and a short run (5 km) has received the prestigious membership of AIMS – Association of International Marathon and Distance Races, thereby providing international reach to the worldwide running community.

of a sports pavilion in Balotra District, Rajasthan.

It also promotes events that generate awareness about sports, healthcare and social causes. The marathon was renamed the “Cairn Pink City Half Marathon” (CPCHM), which was held on 24 December 2017 and 16 December 2018 in Jaipur.

Professional and amateur runners and sports enthusiasts across the globe participate in this marathon that sees active participation from Vedanta-Cairn employees. The event not

Since his association with Cairn, Sandeep has won 10 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze medal at various reputed international events


Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM) is undeniably one of the most distinguished sports sponsors in Zambia. The company received the coveted top sports awards from the government twice, through the Ministry of Sport. These include the Consistent Sports Sponsor award and the outstanding Contribution to Sport through CSR award.

KCMNurturing Sports Talent in Various disciplines


KCM’s sports footprint has, in the past decade, spanned from football – the country’s most revered sport – to the sponsorship of key tournaments in

various disciplines in KCM’s areas of operation and host communities of Nampundwe, Kitwe, Chingola and Chililabombwe. The company has also supported a variety of sports including rugby, tennis, squash and bowling.

KCM has provided 27 sports facilities to communities in all its operational areas, through a community-driven sports support model, benefitting the youth and other members of the community. These facilities are managed by committees nominated from within the communities so that ownership is built thereby ensuring the sustainability of operations. KCM employees and community members regularly participate in these wellness and competitive sports activities.

The youth comprises at least 21 per cent of Zambia’s population of 16.4 million and engaging them in sports activities ensures that they stay away from engaging in anti-social behaviour such as abuse of alcohol. A number of young Zambians have emerged from KCM-aided sports clubs to become national heroes in their chosen disciplines.

Rugby, which is the second most popular sport, has benefitted immensely with KCM community support and many national rugby tournaments are regularly hosted at the KCM facilities in Chingola and Chililabombwe. Tournaments like the famous Owen Busange Rugby tournament are annually held in Chililabombwe and the National 10-A Side Tournament is held in Chingola.

The Nchanga Rugby Club recently hosted the national 2018 Rugby 10-A Side tournament. KCM partnered with the local organising committee in sponsoring this prestigious tournament in Chingola that attracted the participation of 18 rugby teams from across the country. Red Arrows and Diggers Rugby Clubs were both declared winners of the 2018 tournament after the final match ended in a draw. The Rugby tournament held in Nchanga, called the KCM 10-A Side rugby tournament has officially been elevated to being the season’s curtain raiser by the Zambia Rugby Football Union.

KCM’s Football LegacyKCM has played a pioneering role in the development of football in Zambia and is the first private sector company to sponsor the entire Zambia Football League from 2006 to 2011. The company’s passion in developing football received accolades from a cross-section of its partners including the government.

The initiative to sponsor the National League culminated in the blossoming of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) league and heightened competition. This now features as one of Africa’s highly competitive Premier Leagues and attracts prominent players from numerous football-playing nations like Nigeria.

KcM-trained Benson Kolala Makes a MarkThe latest sensation on the Zambian football scene is Benson Kolala who is Zambia’s Chipolopolo Under-20 National team’s prolific attacking midfielder. Benson practices at the Nchanga Rangers FC.

Benson joined the Nchanga Rangers Football Club in 2016 and the club has given him several opportunities to feature in the team. The young midfield player has earned call-ups to the Under-17 national team where he featured in all their engagements in 2017. Benson was promoted to the Under-20 football team after demonstrating his prowess and has trained in the national team, the senior Chipolopolo squad, as it is fondly referred to.

In December 2018, Benson was a key part of the Under-20 squad, which was participating in the southern African region COSAFA tournament, hosted by Zambia. Just like the many Zambian superstars that were trained at KCM football clubs who have gone on to shine on the international scene, Benson is on track to become a major player in Zambian football.


One of the greatest contributions in the development of football in Zambia has been KCM’s sponsorship of local football clubs – Nchanga Rangers and Konkola Blades Football Clubs.

Since the inception of the Zambian League in the early 1960s the KCM teams have had a rich heritage of nurturing some of the best football talent in the country. In recent years, the backbone of the Zambia Junior Football teams, which have performed very well in international tournaments, have had a number of players developed by the Nchanga Rangers and Konkola Blades Football Clubs.

KCM prides itself in making such a meaningful contribution to the local football scene by nurturing top talent in the country. The company has had an impact through the sponsorship of Youth Development Programmes, the National Football League, for a period of six years and has lent its support to two local football clubs for the social mobilisation, entertainment and livelihood to over 120 football players that are employed by the clubs.

Chililabombwe Hosts Squash TournamentOn 27 October 2018, KCM partnered with the Chililabombwe Squash Committee and the local government to sponsor the Konkola Open Squash Tournament at the KCM Konkola Squash Club in Chililabombwe.The tournament, which was contested by 100 squash players, was won by Seed One, Manda Chilambwe of the Lusaka Squash Club who beat Linos Mwale of ZNS Lusaka 3-2 in the men’s category. The woman’s champion was Abigail Chanda of Green Buffaloes who won 3-1 over Ethel Mambwe of the Ndola Squash Club.

KCM Employees Host Sports FestivitiesKCM partnered with the government to sponsor festivities in its areas of operation – Chingola, Chililabombwe, Kitwe and Shibuyunji district where people from all walks of life gathered to honour Zambia Day on 24 October 2018. KCM employees celebrated by hosting an Independence Ball Games tournament with the underlying purpose of fostering unity and patriotism for Zambia.

The KCM teams have nurtured some of the best football talent in the country Since the inception of the Zambian League


Vedanta Limited is a socially responsible corporate that aspires to transform the lives of people who live in some of the most underdeveloped areas in the Lanjigarh tehsil of Odisha. Vedanta Limited firmly believes in making the local people participants in the growth process of the organisation and strives to inculcate a sense of healthy competition and a spirit of team work in communities in the rural parts of Odisha.

Providing a Platform for Local Talent to Blossom

Lanjigarh


First KBK District Level Archery Competition The Kalahandi Balangir Koraput (KBK) region is one of the most backward and underdeveloped areas in the country and is predominantly populated by marginalised and vulnerable groups of society. In an endeavour to bring traditional sports and the talent of this region to the forefront, Vedanta Lanjigarh organised a first-of-its-kind KBK District-level Archery competition on 11 and 12 August 2018 in collaboration with the District Administration of Kalahandi. The two-day sports meet witnessed huge participation, with 46 school children from the five districts of Balangir, Kalahandi, Subarnapur, Malkangiri and Rayagada participating in the junior and sub-junior category.The playground brimmed with spectators who cheered the young ones.

Mirdha Toppo, Sub Collector, Kalahandi and Subhashish Nayak District Sports Officer, Kalahandi graced the occasion as the Chief Guests. Balabhadra Majhi, MLA was also present at the event and appreciated Vedanta’s efforts in organising such an elaborate competition. Vedanta received great appreciation from the district administration as well as the audience for having created an excellent platform for young talent which will continue to inspire the youth of Odisha to play sports especially regional sports like Archery in the future.

Eight teams from the states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh participated in the tournament

Inter State Knockout Football TournamentIn order to promote sports and culture through inclusive partnership with the community, an Inter-State Knockout Football Tournament 2018 was organised by Vedanta Lanjigarh at the Chandanpur village playground from 4-11 December 2018. Eight teams from the states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh took part in the tournament. Teams participated from Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Chandanpur – Lanjigarh Block, Bhilai


Great enthusiasm was seen among the players and the crowd, with more than 1,000 villagers gathering to witness the tournament each day. The sportsmen were highly motivated by the audience’s appreciation and fervour for the game.The tournament also enthused many youth to consider sports as a career and represent the state and country in the future.

Karate ChampionshipStudents enrolled at the karate classes initiated by Vedanta Lanjigarh participated in the 3rd Kalahandi District Karate – Judo Championship held at the Bhawanipatna Indoor Stadium on 9 December 2018. A total of 15 students participated in the championship and won 3 Gold, 6 Silver and 7 Bronze medals in both the Technique and Fighting categories. Vedanta is proud to be nurturing such talented and hardworking students who, within a span of five months of training, achieved laurels – making this an excellent start to their journey in the world of sport. The karate classes introduced by Vedanta in July 2018 provide training to underprivileged girls and boys in the VIII to X classes of the SSD High School, Lanjigarh. Parents were grateful to Vedanta for having given their children an opportunity to learn martial arts and represent their schools at the district level for the first time. The champions look forward to learning more and preparing for the State Level Championship and Vedanta is pleased to have inculcated a drive for sports among the youth.

– Chhattisgarh, Jamshedpur, Angul, Bargarh and Vishakhapatnam (East Coast Railway).

Vedanta also organised a women’s friendly exhibition match between Jharsuguda and Sambalpur to encourage women to participate in sports. Vedanta’s continuous effort in promoting sports across gender was well accepted by the community. The entire village flocked to the playground to witness the match. The players were traditionally welcomed by the community with garlands. Chandanpur village was delighted to have hosted such a big event in their village with Vedanta’s support and Vedanta is proud to have supported Chandanpur’s local talent who reached the semi-finals of the tournament.

Battula Gangadhar, Superintendent of Police, Kalahandi District, who was the Chief Guest was impressed with the arrangements made by Vedanta and was witness to the huge crowd present at the event.


Sports Programmes at An International Level

Vedanta Zinc

Skorpion Zinc (SZ) has been supporting Namibia’s young aspiring football players through its sports development initiative for the past five years. The Skorpion Zinc U-17 football tournament is an initiative that was implemented in partnership with the Namibian Football Association (NFA) and the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service to support the development of U-17 football talent in Namibia as well as to close the gap in school football especially at the competitive level.


Over the past five years the sports programme has provided opportunities to more than 2,000 boys under the age of 17 to showcase their skills and get an

opportunity to be selected by national talent scouts. More than 100 referees have undergone accredited FIFA refereeing courses imparted during the tournaments and more than 100 match officials have been part of the tournaments.

The SZ U-17 has been placed on the annual calendar of the Namibia Football Association since its inception and is recognised by the Namibia Sports Commission. The tournament reaches out to all 14 regions of the country. Trials are done in schools regionally. This provides young talented players an opportunity to compete for a place in the regional/provincial team that will go on to ultimately represent the region/province at the national tournament level. All 14 regions in the country prepare their best talent to represent the region at the tournament.

Skorpion Zinc celebrated five years of successful implementation of the U-17 category in 2018. Over the past five years, the tournament has served as a pool for the selection of young talented Namibians for a spot in the regional/provincal U-17 team and eventually in the national team which goes on to perform in bigger tournaments such as COSAFA U-17 and other international matches. The Skorpion Zinc U-17 Championship has thus created an opportunity for young boys to learn from each other, share ideas and build lasting relations.

Over the past five years the sports programme has provided opportunities for more than 2,000 boys under 17 to showcase their skills

Speaking about how Skorpion Zinc has helped the game progress, Barry Rukoro, Secretary General, NFA said, “We, at NFA, believe that the partnership between our two institutions is one of the most productive ones we ever had and we hope that future generations of young football players will continue to benefit from your generosity. We have no doubt that significant progress has been made in the development of the game. More young players, boys and girls both, are joining the game than ever before; we have built national teams of international repute and women football is growing by leaps and bounds. All these


achievements are due, in no small part, to the support provided by Skorpion Zinc.”

Skorpion Zinc NFA Women’s Super League: In October 2018, Skorpion Zinc, launched the Skorpion Zinc NFA Women’s Super League in partnership with the Namibia Football Association (NFA). The League provides women and girls in the country with a platform to showcase their talent and skills at the highest level, enabling them to participate in international games elsewhere in the world. The Women’s Super League targets aspiring and talented Namibian women soccer players between the ages of 16-35 from soccer clubs across the country.

“When a woman is in power, she empowers others and that is what Ms Deshnee Naidoo has done, she might not understand the magnitude of this sponsorship but we do, every girl who kicks a ball in this country does. And we can never thank you enough, but we promise to uphold and protect the Skorpion Zinc and Vedanta brands, we promise

to be better, to do better, be different and make sure that Skorpion Zinc and Vedanta Zinc International will have no reason to doubt our commitment in this partnership.” said the former Brave Gladiators Head Coach, Jacqueline Shipanga.

Skorpion Zinc sport initiatives will thus continue to make an even greater impact in Namibia.


As the Head – Group Treasury, Vedanta, Rashmi Mohanty divides her time between Gurgaon and Mumbai, handling corporate finances and treasury management. Add to

that her family responsibilities (a husband and two kids), and she does have her hands full. But despite all this, Rashmi – an avid runner – finds time to participate and finish strongly in long-distance runs across the world.

Rashmi used to be an athlete during her school and college days but started long-distance races only a few years ago. “I used to be a sprinter in school and college and also participated in events like javelin throw and long jump. But as I left college and started my professional career, fitness took a backseat. Then, about 10 years ago, after the birth of my second child, I realised I was in my late-thirties and it hit me that my fitness levels were bad. So, I decided to move into my forties as a fit woman. That’s how I got into running.” Over the years, Rashmi has competed in several half-marathons and marathons in India and abroad and has also finished a number of ultra-marathons (races longer than 42 km). “My first ultra was in 2011, a 50 km run and since then, I have run several more, including the Comrades (South Africa’s 89 km-long Comrades

Marathon, widely regarded as the most prestigious ultra-marathon in the world), two years in a row,” she says.

On balancing a high pressure job with running, she says, “It is tougher for women, because there is the added dimension of kids and the house that you also have to balance. That means something will always take

Rashmi has competed in several half-marathons and marathons in India and abroad and has also finished a number of ultra-marathons

precedence over the others. What takes precedence and how it happens depends on the situation and you.”

Running isn’t simply recreational for Rashmi. She explains, “Running does give me a lot that helps me in the corporate world too. First of all, it teaches me patience. Through running, I have also learnt to break up my problems and targets into smaller bits. For instance, when I’m running a 100 km race, I focus on my timing for the first 25 km. When I pass that mark, I revise my target based on my performance thus far. I have applied the same approach to handling things at work as well. Instead of dealing with everything at once, I tackle smaller problems or issues at one time.”

Rashmi is now setting her sights higher. She says, “I want to run more ultra-marathons, maybe go for a 100-milers now that I have done 100-km races. I also want to finish all the six World Marathon Majors – New York, Chicago, Boston, London, Berlin, and Tokyo.” So far, only six Indians have finished all these.

Getting Successin the Long Run

It is not often that we get to hear about an extraordinary feat that truly inspires us. Such effort involves passion, years of hard work and

commitment. One such story is that of M Kumaran, a well-site geologist from the sub-surface team of Vedanta Cairn Oil and Gas. Kumaran is a geologist by profession and an avid stand-up paddler by passion who has been paddling across the length and breadth of the country on water bodies, for a couple of years now.

As he paddles, he also generates awareness about conserving water bodies and the eco-system around us. His unwavering passion has won him many laurels both in the form fame and records (in three independent Limca Book of Records).

In 2017, Kumaran set yet another world record by completing an expedition of stand-up paddling in the Ganges from source to the sea clocking 2,667 km in 72 days. He achieved this target when he reached Ganga Sagar in West Bengal on 11 January 2017 at around 4pm. Kumaran set off on ‘Ganges SUP’ on 17 October 2016. The aim of this feat was to stand-up paddle the length of the river Ganges from Gaumukh to Sagar Island in

three months.The expedition kicked off at Gaumukh (source of the river Ganges at 4,020 metres) going on to Devprayag and Haridwar in Uttrakhand and then on to the plains of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. In his journey to complete this challenging task, Kumaran joined a team of three

different nationals from across the globe. The aim of this adventure was to use the sport

to campaign for cleaner and safer rivers and also to raise awareness against single use plastic SUP i.e #SUPagainstSUP, encouraging more people to step outside their comfort zone and attempt an ‘adventure in their backyard’. Kumaran is now ready to set yet another world record!

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Creating Ecological Awareness

Kumaran set yet another world record by completing an expedition of stand-up paddling in the Ganges from source to the sea clocking 2,667 km in 72 days


M KuMARAnCairn Oil and Gas

“Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them – a desire, a dream, a vision” – Mahatma Gandhi

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