Keonjhar, 30th Aug 2025: In a tribal-dominated district like Keonjhar, the story of Bubu Sihna stands out. Once a village youth with a passion for watching cricket, Bubu had little interest in playing. Instead, he was drawn to commentary, which he began doing at local matches during his school and college years.
Starting out by doing free commentary, Bubu gradually gained recognition. Initially offered only food and travel expenses, he used this time to master commentary in four languages — Odia, Hindi, English, and Bengali. Over time, his fluent and engaging style earned him a spot in over 1,000 cricket tournaments.
He has now commentated in prestigious matches and leagues across Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, including:
All Odisha Premier League
India Sadashiv Cup (Fategarh)
Shankar Night Cup (Keonjhar)
Bapuji Cup, DPL Cup (Bhubaneswar)
Ollywood Celebrity Cup
Let’s Cut Cup (Baripada)
Golden Cup (Altira)
All India AG Cup (Jajpur)
Kalinagar Premier League, Vyasnagar & Jajpur Town Premier Leagues
For each event, Bubu now earns at least ₹40,000, earning him the title “Commentary King” in the regional cricket circuit.
???? Keonjhar’s Uprooted Kids Becoming National Wushu Champions
The Jindal Sports Hostel in Keonjhar, home to 60 young Wushu athletes, is shaping international-level martial artists who are not only excelling in sports but also continuing their education.
Some notable stars:
Bablu Munda – Silver medalist, Junior Wushu Championship 2018, Brunei
Manju Munda – Gold medalist, Moscow Junior Wushu Championship 2019
Ramesh Munda – Gold medalist, Macau Junior Wushu Championship 2023
Swetarani Mahanty – Gold (Moscow 2024) & Bronze (Junior World Wushu, China)
Rajkumar Munda and Prem Munda – Gold medalists, Moscow Junior Wushu Championship 2025
Now, Prem Munda (56kg category) has been shortlisted in the top 8 Indian athletes eligible to represent India in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
These stories reflect the untapped potential in rural and tribal Odisha, where young talents are breaking barriers and gaining national and international acclaim — whether through a mic or martial arts.