BARBIL/KEONJHAR (Odisha): Manju Munda of Sialijoda village, under Joda block of Keonjhar district, has brought glory for Odisha as well as India by bagging Gold in the Moscow Wushu Stars-2019 Championship held in Moscow, Russia.
Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) informed that the sporting talent of the tribal girl was first spotted by JSPL Foundation which has been promoting rural and ethnic sports in Barbil region of Keonjhar district of Odisha.
The Foundation extended all round support to the tribal girl including training, nutritional supplements support and facilitating her participation in State and National level Championships since 2011.
She defeated her Russian counterpart in the final to snatch the yellow metal in 42-kg category. In the semi and quarter final, she conquered her Egypt and Kazakhstan counterparts, respectively.
Manju was the only player from Odisha in the 28-member Indian squad which was accompanied by Pankaj Kumar Mahanta and three others as coach. The tournament was organised from 22 – 27 Feb.
Currently pursuing her intermediate at Joda Women’s College, Manju has 20 medals in her kitty so far including 12 gold medals. In 2017, she had won Bronze in National level Wushu C’ship held in Uttarakhand.
Since then, she was under training of Asian Indoor Games Kickboxing Medalist Pankaj Kumar Mahanta, who was appointed by JSPL Foundation to train students in various martial arts at Sialijoda Primary School.
(Reported by India CSR Network)
