- 11 out of 14 players in the Raigarh team are trainees of the Adani Foundation; since 2022, 35 girls have excelled at the state level, and five have achieved success at the national level.
Rural sports talent, nurtured by the Adani Foundation, has once again made a strong mark in the sporting landscape of Chhattisgarh. Eleven girls, trained by the Adani Foundation, have secured spots in the 14-member Raigarh district team for the 26th Junior State-Level Girls’ Kabaddi Championship, currently being held in the Pendra-Marwahi district. Thanks to a regular kabaddi training program—initiated in 2022-23—and access to improved sports facilities, these girls from rural areas are setting new milestones in Chhattisgarh’s sports arena.
The three-day junior state-level championship is being organized by the Pendra-Marwahi District Kabaddi Association under the aegis of the Chhattisgarh Kabaddi Association, running from November 13 to 15, 2026. The promising players from the Adani Foundation representing the Raigarh district team include Ritu Sidar, Sarojni Bhardwaj, Bindiya Sidar, Anju Nishad, Anita Sidar, Mahi Gupta, Reshma, Lakshmin Yadav, Pushpa Maitri, Khushbu Bareth, and Gunjan Sidar.
It is a testament to the impact of the sports academy and the consistent guidance provided by the Adani Foundation that, in a relatively short period, 35 girls trained here have proven their mettle at the state level, while five exceptional athletes have gone on to showcase their talent at national-level sports competitions. Recently, the Adani Foundation team delivered an outstanding performance to clinch the championship title at a district-level Kabaddi tournament, held as part of Chhattisgarh’s prestigious Chakradhar Samaroh.
On this momentous occasion—marking the selection and departure of the players—representatives from the District Sports Association, including District Amateur Kabaddi Association Secretary Rajesh Patnaik, along with coaches and prominent sports enthusiasts, were present. The guests bid the players farewell, offering their best wishes and expressing hope that these young women would deliver an excellent performance, bringing pride not only to Raigarh district but to the entire state.
Expressing his delight at the remarkable journey of these girls from rural areas, the Chief Executive Officer (Operations & Projects) of Adani Power Limited, Raigarh, remarked that seeing young women from rural regions excel on the sports field is a source of pride for the entire community. He noted that the selection of these 11 young women for the state-level competition is a testament to their strict discipline, tireless hard work, and the precise guidance provided by their coaches.
Meanwhile, emphasizing the importance of sports and the availability of resources, the Chief Business Officer of Adani Power Limited, Raigarh, stated that providing the right platform, appropriate opportunities, and modern resources to the hidden sporting talent in rural areas remains one of the Adani Foundation’s top priorities. He added that the consistent recognition earned by these trained young women at the district, state, and national levels proves that, given the right opportunities, they are second to none. This success will also inspire other girls in the region to come forward.
It is noteworthy that in the remote rural areas of Raigarh, the Adani Foundation is actively engaged not only in the field of sports but also in education, healthcare, women’s livelihoods, and skill development. The Foundation’s dedicated focus on sports is helping to integrate rural youth into the mainstream, channeling their latent energy in a positive direction.