Fri Jan 24 11:37:41 UTC 2025: **Odisha Shooting Stars Shine, Inspiring National Girl Child Day Message**
BHUBANESWAR, INDIA – Two young Odia women are making waves in the world of competitive shooting, highlighting the importance of empowering girls in sports. Manyata Singh, a recent high school graduate, won gold at the 2023 Odisha State Shooting Championship, followed by a national title in the Junior Women’s 10m Air Rifle category. She then secured silver at the 2024 state championship. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Kashika Pradhan achieved a remarkable feat, ranking No. 1 in three air rifle events at the 2024 Odisha State Championships and claiming top honors in one event at the India Open Competition.
Their success is attributed to the Odisha Aditya Birla Gagan Narang Shooting High Performance Centre, a collaboration between the Aditya Birla Group, the Odisha government, and the Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation. This cutting-edge facility provides world-class training.
On National Girl Child Day, the Aditya Birla Group celebrated the achievements of Manyata and Kashika, emphasizing the need to overcome discrimination and lack of access to education and healthcare that hinder many girls. The group highlighted the crucial role of sports in a girl’s overall development, echoing the sentiment of the Women’s Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King, that sports can break stereotypes and provide equal opportunities.
The article also highlighted the Aditya Birla Group’s commitment to supporting girls, including through their educational initiatives, and their quick response to a tweet by Sachin Tendulkar showcasing the bowling talent of young Sushila Meena. The group pledged to support Sushila’s cricket training through their #FoursForGood initiative. The group’s actions underscore a broader call to action to support girls in achieving their dreams.
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