Bhubaneswar: Neither poverty nor lack of facilities could deter 13-year-old tribal boy Babulu Munda from achieving success. He will be representing India in the 7th World Wushu Championship scheduled to be held in Brazil from July 9 to July 16.
The tribal boy’s stunning performance at Sub-Junior National Coaching Camp at SAI, Bhopal, in May this year helped him confirm a berth for his Brazil tour. Currently, he is training in China.
He won his maiden medal (silver), as a six-year-old, in the very first attempt at 16th All Odisha Kick Boxing Championship in Bhubaneswar on December 18, 2011. There has been no looking back since then.
A Class VIII student of Govt Nodal UP School, Barbil, he has won 10 medals (seven gold, one silver and four bronze) in 12 events.
Babulu’s passion for martial arts has earned him 17 medals so far at State and National levels, the latest being a silver medal in the 17th Sub-Junior Wushu National Championship held from March 27 to March 31 at Jammu & Kashmir.
He now aiming for the yellow metal for India. “Yes, I will get the Gold for my country”, an elated Babulu said thanking JSPL Foundation, which has been supporting him since his childhood for the coaching, nourishment and studies.
JSPL Foundation spotted this young talent in 2011. He was supported for training at Sialijoda Primary School under Coach Pankaj Kumar Mahanta, an Asian Indoor Games Kickboxing Medalist.
“On a daily basis, I impart training to students at the school. I was overwhelmed by the impressive accuracy of this boy in my first session. Initially I thought it could be a coincidence but in each of my sessions he came out with flying colours,” said Mahanta.
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