UDAIPUR (Udaipur Kiran): Hindustan Zinc’s flagship social initiative, Zinc Football Academy (ZFA), has continued its impressive performance in the AIFF Under-18 Elite League 2025–26, remaining unbeaten after ten matches and holding the top position in Group B with four matches still to play in the zonal round.
The AIFF Under-18 Elite League Zonal Round began in November 2025 and will continue until March 2026, with each team playing 14 matches in a home-and-away format. Zinc Football Academy hosts its home fixtures at Hindustan Zinc Stadium, Debari, and MKM Stadium, Zawar, while travelling for away matches.
ZFA’s strong standing in Group B is the result of consistent performances both at home and away. The academy has registered convincing wins against Rajasthan United (7-0, 2-0), Delhi FC (11-0, 5-1), Sudeva Delhi FC (5-0), Juba Sangha FC (3-0), Lake City FC (3-0) and Lucknow Falcons FC (5-0). It has also drawn two closely fought matches against Techtro Lucknow FC (0-0) and Juba Sangha FC (2-2). With eight wins and two draws, ZFA has accumulated 26 points from ten matches, ahead of Sudeva Delhi FC, which has 22 points from nine matches.
The academy has displayed an attacking style of play, scoring 43 goals so far. Striker Ashish Chetry has been the standout performer with 19 goals in ten matches, including three hat-tricks, and is currently placed third in the overall top scorers’ list. Local talents from Zawar, Himesh Meena and Ritik Meena, have also made key contributions with consistent goal-scoring performances. Defensively, ZFA has been equally strong, conceding just three goals in ten matches and keeping eight clean sheets.
With four matches remaining in the zonal round—three at home and one away in Delhi—the academy will look to maintain its momentum in the race for qualification to the Final Round. ZFA will host Techtro Lucknow FC on February 9, Lucknow Falcons FC on February 25, and Lake City FC on March 4, and will travel to Delhi to face Sudeva Delhi FC on February 16.
Since its inception in 2018, the AIFF 3-star rated Zinc Football Academy has consistently contributed players to India’s age-group teams. Players such as Sahil Poonia, Mohammed Kaif and Prem Hansdak have already represented the country, while the recent selection of six ZFA players for the Santosh Trophy marked another milestone. The company has also recently launched India’s first residential football academy for girls, with an inaugural batch of 20 girls from rural backgrounds.
Hindustan Zinc has been supporting sports for nearly four decades, beginning with the establishment of its football stadium at Zawar in 1976. Alongside football, the company promotes athletics, kabaddi and volleyball, with its sports initiatives impacting nearly 30,000 lives.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.