Mallakhamb is an ancient Indian sport that combines yoga, strength, and gymnastics. Young performers from the Naxal-affected Bastar region of Chhattisgarh are getting ready to compete on one of the largest talent platforms in the world.

Members of the Abujhmad Mallakhamb Academy in Narayanpur district, winners of India’s Got Talent Season 10, have received an invitation to participate in America’s Got Talent, scheduled to be held in Los Angeles next year.

A team of seven students, including one girl, will travel to the United States to represent India.

Manoj Prasad, coach and Founder, Abujhmad Mallakhamb Academy, said, "Recently, two children from our academy went to Romania and performed at a talent show, where their performance was very well received and highly appreciated by the people there. We have now received a letter from America's Got Talent inviting us to participate in the competition. A group of seven children, including one girl, will travel to the United States to represent India. This is one of the biggest talent shows in the world, and participants from Abujhmad, Narayanpur, and Bastar will take part. We are aiming not just to participate but to win it."

For these young athletes, performing on an international reality show is a dream come true. The group says it is determined to make the most of the opportunity and is focused on winning the competition.

Narendra Gota, Member, Abujhmad Mallakhamb Academy, said, “We will be going very soon. It requires a lot of hard work. We practice as much as possible at the academy, and we will continue to work even harder. We are going for America's Got Talent and will try to win the competition."

Phool Singh Salam, Performer, Abujhmad Mallakhamb Academy, said, "Our entire team will go to America's Got Talent and proudly represent Bastar and the whole of India there. After India's Got Talent, this was our only goal. Our single aim was to go to America’s Got Talent and lift the trophy."

Yuvraj, Member, Abujhmad Mallakhamb Academy, said, "Today in the morning, we were informed by our teacher that we have received an invitation from America's Got Talent. We felt very happy and everyone applauded for themselves. We had been waiting for this day for a long time. Ever since we were on India's Got Talent, we had been thinking about when the invitation from America's Got Talent would arrive. Finally, we have received the letter. We have been focusing on this for many days, and now we will practice hard as we have two months left."

The Abujhmad Mallakhamb Academy's journey from a region primarily known for Naxal violence to a worldwide entertainment platform demonstrates how talent, discipline, and opportunity are changing lives and motivating youth in Bastar and beyond.