Adani Foundation Sport inductive: Adani Foundation also provided assistance in the Pusaur block level cricket competition. The teams that reached the final were given jerseys and sports materials, as well as tent facilities were also provided for the event. This boosted the morale of the players and improved the level of competition. Adani Foundation: The Adani Foundation has taken an important initiative with the aim of nurturing rural sports talent in Raigad district. Sports materials were distributed for village level cricket competitions held in peripheral villages connected to the plant and rail project. Complete cricket kits including bats, balls, stumps, jerseys were provided, which made it easier to organize competitions and increased the enthusiasm of the youth. Tents and other necessary resources were also arranged for the smooth conduct of the competitions. This improved the standard of sports events in the villages and gave a platform to the youth to showcase their skills. Champions emerge from the village grounds! Adani Foundation gives new flight to sports talent Photo Credit: Zulfikar Ali Participation of Public Representatives and Villagers Several sarpanches, public representatives and villagers of the area participated in the programme. All described the initiative as an inspiration for the rural youth. More than 500 youths from villages like Bade Bhandar, Sarwani, Amlibhauna, Barpali, Gejamuda, Kurmapali and Kashichuwa got direct benefit of this support. Villagers say that now local teams are able to organize even large-scale tournaments with confidence. Support was also received for block level competitions The teams that reached the finals were given jerseys and sports materials, as well as tent facilities were also provided for the event. This boosted the morale of the players and improved the level of competition. Daughters also showed strength The Girls Kabaddi training programme run by the Adani Foundation for the last three years has made a big difference in the lives of rural girls. So far, more than 180 girls have received training and have performed brilliantly in many competitions. In the Chakradhar Ceremony Women’s Kabaddi Tournament, the team achieved the distinction of being consecutive winners and runners-up. Recently, in the district level competition, the team won the title of champion representing Raigad. Under this programme, 33 girls have been selected for state-level competitions, while some have been selected at the national level — which is a matter of pride for the entire district. New opportunities are opening up from the modern sports complex. In view of these achievements, a modern sports complex has been constructed in the high school premises located in the village Bade Bhandar. Players are being trained by national level coaches here. With better facilities, rural girls are now getting ready to show their talent on big stages. This initiative is not limited to sports but is also a strong step towards inculcating self-confidence, discipline and leadership skills among rural youth. When talented youngsters struggling with scarcity of resources get the right platform and guidance, they can achieve great things — these stories from Raigad are an example of this change.
