Thirteen-year-old Teja Bai, hailing from a poor family in a remote tribal village and a student of the Tribal Welfare Residential School, Kalwakurthy (Nagarkurnool) bagged a silver medal in international Pencak Silat Championship 2017, held in Singapore, in under-14 category.
Pencak Silat is an indigenous martial arts of the Indonesian/Malay archipelago. Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TTWREIS) Secretary R.S. Praveen Kumar complimented the girl and said the society has been making efforts to create an eco-system where children could showcase their “inherent potential” in academics, sports, martial arts and mountaineering.
“We are planning to start gymnasiums and provide sports facilities in all our social and tribal welfare schools with an eye on Olympic medals,” he added, according to a press release.