From India first residential girls’ football academy to the country’s most scenic marathon, the company places Udaipur on the sporting map.
Udaipur. Hindustan Zinc Limited (BSE: 500188, NSE: HINDZINC), the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, has empowered nearly 30,000 individuals across India through its wide-ranging sports initiatives. From football and kabaddi to volleyball, athletics and marathons, the company is using sports as a vehicle to provide rural youth with new opportunities for growth, careers, and recognition.
With its sporting legacy dating back almost half a century to the Zawar Stadium in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district, Hindustan Zinc has steadily expanded its grassroots programmes. The company’s initiatives now provide structured training, scholarships and career pathways, ensuring that young athletes from remote areas can aspire to national and international stages.
India’s First Residential Girls’ Football Academy
At the centre of this mission is Zinc Football Academy, which has already gained a reputation as one of the country’s top grassroots football institutions. Accredited with a three-star rating by the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) and named Sports Academy of the Year at the Sport India Awards 2024, the academy recently launched a landmark initiative – India’s first residential girls’ football academy.
The inaugural batch includes 20 under-15 girls, providing them with professional training, academic support, and exposure to national-level opportunities. The academy has already produced talents such as Mohammad Kaif and Sahil Poonia, who went on to represent India.
Udaipur’s “Most Beautiful Marathon”
Beyond football, Hindustan Zinc has put Udaipur on the global running map with the Vedanta Zinc City Half Marathon, celebrated as India’s Most Beautiful Marathon. The debut edition saw over 5,000 runners from across the globe, including a special Race with Champions for differently-abled children, alongside the #RunForZeroHunger campaign.
The marathon’s scenic route through Fateh Sagar Lake and the Aravali Hills combined fitness with inclusivity and social purpose. The second edition, scheduled for September 21, 2025, is expected to draw even larger participation.
A Larger Social Impact
Speaking on the initiatives, Arun Misra, CEO & Whole-time Director, Hindustan Zinc, said:“From establishing India’s first residential girls’ football academy to hosting the country’s most beautiful marathon, we are creating platforms that inspire confidence, discipline, and opportunity. These initiatives go beyond nurturing athletes – they foster healthier, more inclusive communities and contribute to India’s sporting and social progress.”
Apart from football and marathon events, the company also supports cricket, kabaddi, handball and volleyball – reaching over 12,000 rural youth in FY25 alone.
Hindustan Zinc’s community development initiatives go well beyond sports. The company claims to have transformed the lives of over 2.3 million people across 2,300 villages through projects in education, healthcare, nutrition, women’s empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods. Its large-scale environmental programmes in afforestation, water stewardship and biodiversity conservation further reinforce its commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth.
