JAA introduces awards for international archers and coaches

Jamshedpur, Dec 1 (UNI) The Jharkhand Archery Association(JAA) has become the first archery body in the country to institutionalise awards for the archers and coaches, who have excelled at the international events, from this year onwards.

At a function here yesterday JAA in association with Tata Archery Academy (TAA) honoured the archers with 'Eklavya' and the coaches with ''Bhisma Pitamaha'' awards, that carried a cash prize of Rs 5000, scroll and a blazer, sources said.

Tata Steel managing director B Muthuraman gave away the prizes in the presence of JAA president T Mukherjee, Secretary Sanjeeva Singh, they added.

World's fourth ranked archer Jayata Talukdar, Asian gold medallist Jhanu Hansda, Manjudha Soy, Gold medallist in Junior world championship Paltan Hansda, Prabhat Kandir, V Pranitha, Sakro Besra and Vivek Kumar were conferred with 'Eklavya' awards while coaches Sanjeeva Singh, Dharmendra Tiwary, Harendra Kumar Singh and B Srinivas Rao were awarded as 'Bhisma Pitamaha'.

TAA also presented bows and arrows to their cadets Jhanu and Paltan for their performance in the compound round. Talukdar, also a TAA cadet could not receive the award personally as he is representing the Inidan archery squad in Doha Asiad, begining today.

Congratulating the archers for their excellent performance in the international and national arenas, Mr Muthuraman said, ''Tata Steel will continue to promote archery.'' However, he regretted that despite earning international recognition, archery was the least advertised and popular in India urged the government and sports authorities to promote the game.

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