Ramesh Munda’s Remarkable Achievement
Ramesh Munda, a student of Jindal Sports Hostel in Barbil, has brought laurels to the country by winning the gold medal in the 11th Sub-junior Asian Wushu Championship held at Macao, China. The hostel has been established and run by the JSP Foundation, the social arm of Jindal Steel & Power (JSP) under the direct guidance and supervision of its Hon’ble Chairperson, Smt. Shallu Jindal.
Munda, who hails from a poor tribal family in Sialijoda village, started his training in Wushu at the age of 7. He was identified by the JSP Foundation, and provided with focused training and support. Munda has previously won medals in state and national level tournaments. This is the maiden international medal for the Jindal Sports Hostel, which was inaugurated on July 9, 2023 by Hon’ble Chairman of JSP, Shri Naveen Jindal and Hon’ble Chairperson of the Foundation, Smt. Shallu Jindal.
In a statement, Smt. Jindal said, “I’m proud of Ramesh Munda for his outstanding achievement. He is an inspiration to all young athletes of the Jindal Sports Hostel, and I’m confident that he will continue to represent India in international tournaments and bring more laurels to the country.”
What is Wushu?
Wushu is a form of martial arts that originated in China. It is composed of two disciplines: taolu (forms) and sanda (sparring). Taolu involves performing a routine of movements that demonstrate agility, balance, coordination, and power. Sanda involves combat skills such as punching, kicking, throwing, and grappling.
Wushu is recognized as a sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Wushu Federation (IWUF). It is also one of the official sports in the Asian Games and the Southeast Asian Games. Wushu has gained popularity worldwide as a means of physical fitness, self-defense, and cultural exchange.
How JSP Foundation Supports Wushu Players
The JSP Foundation has been supporting and promoting youths of Keonjhar District to play Wushu and Kickboxing sports for more than a decade. The Foundation, in association with Odisha State Wushu Association, has been patronizing the Keonjhar District Wushu Team.
The Foundation extends all infrastructural support to the Team, like the development of training centres, training facilities by national-level coaches, food and nutrition and clothing and conveyance for the players. Besides Ramesh Munda, during the past years, JSP Foundation groomed Babulu and Manju Munda, who have bagged Silver and Gold medals in International Wushu Tournaments in Brazil, Brunei and Moscow, respectively.
The JSP Foundation has been promoting more than 30,000 rural and tribal sports talents in the country in martial sports, women’s hockey, men’s hockey, women’s football, Kabadi, Khokho and Cricket.
Other Achievements from Jindal Sports Hostel
The Jindal Sports Hostel is not only a hub for Wushu players but also for other sports disciplines. The hostel provides residential facilities for talented students from underprivileged backgrounds who have a passion for sports. The hostel also offers academic coaching and career guidance for the students.
Some of the notable achievements from the hostel are:
- Sweta Rani won bronze medal in Junior National Kickboxing Championship 2023.
- Anil Kumar won silver medal in National School Games Athletics Championship 2023.
- Rajesh Kumar won gold medal in State Level Boxing Championship 2023.
- Priyanka Kumari won gold medal in State Level Archery Championship 2023.
- Sunita Kumari won silver medal in State Level Badminton Championship 2023.
The hostel aims to nurture more such talents who can make India proud on national and international platforms.
