Sponsoring Athletes, building stadiums and now co-sponsoring Indian Hockey
Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company's initiative to promote sports and sportsmen goes back almost 4 decades when the company made its football stadium at Zawar in Rajasthan in 1976. Since last 37 years Hindustan Zinc Football Stadium, named in the memories of late Shri Mohan Kumar Manglam, former Union Minister for Steel and Mines, Government of India; every year organizes National Football Tournament which attracts more than 50,000 people from the nearby areas, which is primarily tribal population. Every year the event witnesses about 15-20 national football matches by reputed national teams coming from Delhi, Mumbai, Udaipur, Chennai, Kolkata, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Dehradoon, Ahmedabad, Hisar, Meerut and Himachal Pradesh and other cities. The company also has a general sports stadium in Rajsamand district in Rajasthan.
The association with sportsmen started with the ace archer Padam Shri Limba Ram and extended to Bhupendra Vyas, 7 Gold Medals winner of Commonwealth Games in Power-Lifting event; Mala Sukhwal – Gold Medalist in Women Power-Lifting; Bhakti Sharma – Swimming Champion, and Jabbar Mohammed the Volleyball Player. Recently, Vedanta Hindustan Zinc singed an agreement to support the ace discus-throw international champion, Padam Shri Krishna Poonia, who is India's campaigner for medals in Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and also Olympics.
“I am very happy and grateful to Vedanta group company Hindustan Zinc for sponsoring me for next two years which are very crucial for me, as I would be preparing for the Asian Games and Commonwealth games. The Olympics are also scheduled in 2016 and this preparation will help me for my hunt for the medals for my country”, said Krishna Poonia. This is Krishna Poonia first corporate deal towards her sponsorship.
"Vedanta Group has been supportive of sports not just in India but also overseas. Vedanta’s group company in copper in Zambia, Konkola Copper Mines, is promoting Football, Tennis, Squash and Golf. The iron ore business company, Sesa Goa in India has developed a Sesa Football Academy in Goa on the reclaimed mine." said Pavan Kaushik, Head of Corporate Communication at Vedanta Group.
Vedanta Group company in Oil & Gas, Cairn India also recently gone ahead and become the co-sponsor of Indian Hockey teams, junior and seniors both, and also the men and women, both the teams.
The sport stars have also been keen to get associated with social media campaign. Krishna Poonia has joined Vedanta's global social media campaign 'Khushi' that spreads the message on care for the underprivileged children, their health, nutrition and education. Krishna also met the children of Anganwadi and spent time with them. Her husband and coach Dronacharya Virendar Poonia also joined 'Khushi' campaign and is promoting the cause. 'Vedanta on its own is doing a lot of work for the deprived children and 'Khushi' will spread the message for others to follow', said Krishna Poonia.