Archery academy flourishes in Naxal-hit Bijapur

A sports academy has been set up in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district to nurture talent among young children.

Twenty children are being trained in archery at the academy, and in less than a year, students have won three medals at the state-level championship and have also made it to the national level.

Coach Durgesh Pratap Rai told ANI, "It's been nine months that the academy has started. We have 20 children from tribal areas. In such short span of time these children have excelled in the game and have established themselves at the state level."

The coach said these children here will surely bring fame to the nation like former world number one archer Deepika Kumari who also did not belong to a well-to-do family.

"Archery is in their blood. Their journey from traditional bow and arrows used for hunting to the modern sport of archery has been displayed through their performance. They will be able to show their talent on international level as well," the coach added.

One of the archers training in the academy, said that after winning medals at the state level, he now wants to win gold at the nationals.

The trainee said, "I am from a tribal region. The Bijapur Sports Academy established by the district administration has been quite helpful for us. Children from various tribal regions, who have leaning towards archery, are taken into the academy through a trial process."

"There are 21 children here currently who are given proper training. Benefitted by the training here, we have won in school games, won silver medal in state games and also secured 26th rank in the national games. Now I want to win gold at national," he added.