Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik presented a cheque of Rs 2.33 lakh to 13-year-old Babulu Munda, who won a silver medal at the recently concluded 7th World Wushu Championship in Brazil, Saturday.
The Keonjhar-born Babulu had to settle for silver after losing to his Egyptian opponent in the 42 kg sub-junior category of Sanshou discipline July 16. He secured his place in final by beating his counterparts from Peru and Iran in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively.
It was his stunning performance at the Sub-Junior National Coaching Camp at SAI, Bhopal, in May this year that confirmed Babulu’s berth for Brazil.
This little martial artist’s passion and determination has so far earned him 17 medals 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.
A native of Sialijoda village under Deojhar gram panchayat and Class VIII student of Government Nodal UP School in Barbil, Babulu is honing his skill under the guidance of Pankaj Mahanta, an Asian Indoor Games Kickboxing Medalist, since 2011.
The Wushu Association of Orissa, Keonjhar district administration, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and JSPL Foundation are extending all support to Babulu.
PNN