Zinc Football Academy Shines As Local Talent Secures AIFF Under-18 Elite League Final Round

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Hindustan Zinc’s Zinc Football Academy has entered the Final Round. The side has qualified for the AIFF Under-18 Elite League 2025–26. The zonal campaign has featured strong results and clean sheets. Youngsters from Zawar near Udaipur have played key roles.

ZFA has played 14 zonal matches so far. The team has earned 11 wins, two draws and one loss. At home, the Academy has won seven matches without conceding. ZFA has scored 37 home goals. The zonal round began in November 2025.

League format and Hindustan Zinc’s social impact focus

The zonal round follows a home-and-away format this season. Each team faces every other side twice. Zinc Football Academy is Hindustan Zinc’s flagship social impact initiative. The company is part of the Vedanta Group. The project links youth development with community outreach.

ZFA zonal campaign numbers

Zawar forward Himesh Meena leads from the front

Forward Himesh Meena from Zawar has become a key figure. He has been with the Academy for two years. Last season, he was injured in the Final Round. That layoff lasted nearly four months. This year, he has returned strongly.

Himesh mainly plays as a forward for ZFA. He also contributes in midfield when needed. He links play and creates chances regularly. He has scored important goals in zonal games. Coaches see him as a regular starter now.

First team breakthroughs for Ritik and Sahil

Zawar youngsters Ritik Meena and Sahil Meena have debuted. Both have played in the Elite League Zonal Round. Ritik operates as a forward for the side. Sahil plays as a defender in the backline. Their promotion marks clear progress this season.

Ritik and Sahil began through Zinc Football Community Schools. They followed the development pathway within the Zinc Football structure. The route takes players from grassroots to academy teams. Their rise highlights that planned system. It also reflects consistent community level scouting.

Local pride in Zawar and wider academy reach

These three players come from modest family backgrounds. Their growth has brought pride in Zawar’s football community. More Zawar talents feature in the Academy’s senior team. Others play in the Under-15 girls side. The programme continues to widen its talent base.

Zinc Football Academy started operations in 2018. It holds AIFF 3-star Academy status. The centre has supplied players to India’s age-group teams. Graduates include Sahil Poonia and Mohammed Kaif. Another graduate, Prem Hansdak, has also represented India.

Recent India Under-17 success and girls’ academy launch

Goalkeeper Rajrup Sarkar’s recent India Under-17 performances stand out. They mark another important moment for the Academy. Hindustan Zinc has also launched a residential girls football academy. It is described as India’s first such centre. The inaugural batch has 20 rural girls.

Hindustan Zinc’s long association with sports

Hindustan Zinc has backed sports for nearly four decades. Its football stadium at Zawar opened in 1976. The venue still hosts annual National Football Tournaments. The company also supports athletics, kabaddi and volleyball. Programmes have touched nearly 30,000 lives so far.

The Vedanta Zinc City Half Marathon runs in Udaipur yearly. The event attracts runners from different regions and countries. It has helped increase sports awareness in the city. The marathon now complements the company’s football and multi-sport efforts. Together, they strengthen community engagement.