Two rural students from IRDF funded schools in India win Silver and Bronze medals for India in World Archery competition, Mexico

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: Nikhilesh Rao

Nikhilesh.Rao@IndiaRural.org  917-438-9271

 

California (IRDF), Oct 22nd 2006 – India Rural Development Fund (IRDF) announced today that two students from its grant partner - Rural Development Foundation (RDF) schools in India won a silver and bronze medal for India in the world Archery competition in Merida, Mexico. 

 

Ms. Pranitta Vardhineni, a student from the RDF School - Kalleda Village, Warangal District, Andhra Pradesh represented India and won a Silver medal at the just concluded World Archery Championship in Mexico.  Mr. A. Raju also from the same RDF school won the Bronze medal in the team event at the competition.

 

The two students have consistently excelled in the state and national archery competitions, while they were still in school.  Sixteen (16) year-old Ms. Vardhineni was earlier placed in first place at the National Ranking Competition in Calcutta and Raju stood second.  Ms. Vardhineni and Mr. Raju are products of the archery program started fours years ago at the RDF school and coached by Prabhir Das a former national archery champion.  The school has since produced other young archers who went onto compete in state and national level championships.

 

RDF a non-profit provides highly subsidized education in rural India along with free mid-day meals to all students. In addition to the archery program the rigorous academic curriculum maintained by the school helped two students achieve the 1st and 2nd place at the regional level for the 10th class board exams in the past year.  Ms. Vardhineni’s and Mr. Raju’s achievements are even more remarkable given the meager background they come from.  Majority of these families survive on farming with an income of a $1 per day! 

 

World Archery Championship Links:

Competition website:

http://www.archeryworldcup.org/index.asp

 

Competition Draws:

http://www.archeryworldcup.org/UserFiles/Document/Results/Results/06_WC_Junior_Merida/finals/06_JuniorWC_Merida_finals_RCW.pdf?storyId=6259836 

 

To see other PHOTOS from the competition, click here...

 

 Other Press Coverage:

   

  1. Pranitta ‘targets’ Olympic medal - Oct 22, 2006 http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/10/24/stories/2006102417090400.htm
  2. NGO makes a difference to interior village- Dec 9 2003, The Hindu http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/09/stories/2003120904780500.htm
  3. School proves a boon to rural students – Feb 16 2004, The Hindu http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/02/16/stories/2004021602770500.htm
  4. Kalleda School — redefining attitude towards sport- Dec 9 2004, The Hindu http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2004/12/09/stories/2004120907111800.htm

 

 

About IRDF

 

India Rural Development Fund (IRDF) is US based non-profit with a mission of accelerating social and economic development in rural India.  India Rural provides grants for rural development projects run by non-governmental organizations in India. Our focus is on education, vocational training, health, family planning, and infrastructure development.  IRDF works out of California in the US, and through its primary grant partner Rural Development Foundation (RDF) in Hyderabad, India.

 

For more information contact:

Erik Kaeding

Erik.Kaeding@IndiaRural.org / (510) 304-4048

www.IndiaRural.org

 

 

 

Ms. Pranitta Vardhineni in Merida, Mexico – October 21, 2006

 

Indian Team at the 2006 competition (Ms. Pranitta V. on the right)

RDF School – Kalleda Village – Junior students in training