Tamil Nadu archer seeks government monetary support

Chennai, Jan 2 (ANI): Chinna Raju Srither, a national champion in archery, has requested the Central Government to provide him with financial support, so that he can pursue his dream of reaching the top.

Srither has been ranked first in the selection for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Delhi in the year 2010.

He has won several accolades, but does not own any personal archery equipment.

Srither has requested the government to lend him financial support for buying equipments.

"I want to win a medal in the upcoming Commonwealth Games and I want to be in the first place even outside the country. But for that I don't have the money to buy equipment. I want the Government of India, the Sports Association of India or the state government to help me. It'll be very good for my sport and this is my hope," said Srither.

Srither's trainer, Shihan Hussaini, believes that Srither can do wonders and even bring back an Olympic medal, provided he gets government aid.

"Srither is remarkably talented and I think he is going to create records in the world archery field. All that I want on behalf of him that the government must give him the right kind of equipment and the back-up equipments for his own, number one; number two, he is from a very poor background so if government could give him some kind of financial support to support his family, it'll be off his mind, because archery is a game of focus and if there is less of tension he can do a much better job," said Hussaini.

Srither serves in the Indian Army and does a bit of his target practice with odd bits of equipment he obtains there. But that practice might not be sufficient for him to win a medal in the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

He has won many archery competitions at national and international levels, and won five gold medals at the national level in 2009. (ANI)