THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

KEONJHAR, FEBRUARY 3, 2026

As arrows slice through the crisp morning air in Sankarpur, they tell a powerful story of ambition, resilience and transformation. In just 22 months, the Odisha Tata Archery High Performance Centre (OTAPHC) in Keonjhar has emerged as a cradle of excellence, grooming India’s next generation of archers and redefining the sporting landscape of the state.

A joint initiative of the Government of Odisha and Tata Steel, OTAPHC began its journey with 24 cadets — 12 boys and 12 girls — armed with world-class infrastructure, modern equipment and expert coaching. Today, it stands much taller than a training facility. It has evolved into a high-impact sporting ecosystem that identifies raw talent, largely from rural and tribal communities, and shapes it into national-level performers.

The numbers speak volumes. In less than two years, the centre has produced fourteen national-level players and medallists, while clinching a total of 20 medals at state and national competitions, including eight gold, eight silver and four bronze. Among its most historic achievements is the bronze medal won by Sunita Naik and Sabitri Patra at the 45th NTPC Junior National Archery Championship in Raipur in December 2025 — the first-ever national medal in the history of Odisha archery. The duo went on to add silver and bronze in team events at the 69th National School Games 2025–26 in Ranchi, further cementing the centre’s growing reputation.

Behind these milestones are deeply human stories of grit and hope. Arjun Khara, hailing from a remote, Naxal-affected village in Malkangiri, crossed rivers and battled hardships long before he ever drew a bow. Selected into OTAPHC in 2024, his life took a decisive turn. Today, the son of a farmer competes at premier platforms such as the Senior National Archery Championship, National Games and NTPC National Ranking Tournaments, proudly representing Odisha on the national stage. “Being a tribal, I have always been fascinated by archery. My instinct, along with the facilities available here, has helped me excel in this field. My aim is to win medals for India at the Olympics,” Arjun says, eyes firmly set on the future.

Equally inspiring is Sita Hembram from Jajpur district, who lost her parents and brother at a young age and grew up carrying responsibilities far beyond her years. Determined to build a better future for her younger sister, she earned her place at the Keonjhar centre in 2024. Since then, archery has given her purpose and confidence. She has already won medals at the Odisha State Inter School Archery Championship 2025 and is now chasing bigger dreams. “I had no knowledge of archery before joining this academy. But over the past year, I have learned the technical skills that helped me earn accolades for my state and country. I thank Tata Steel for this facility, and I am sure it will help many budding talents excel in the future,” Sita says.

The centre’s impact has been consistent across categories. Bhagobat Baliarsingh and Monalisa Nayak recently struck gold in the Under-15 Boys and Girls Recurve and Compound rounds respectively at the Odisha State Archery Tournament 2025 in Cuttack. The introduction of the compound category in 2025 has further widened opportunities for young archers, while the current batch of 17 cadets now includes talents from outside Odisha, reflecting the centre’s rising national appeal.

Mukul Vinayak Choudhury, Chief, Sports, Tata Steel, underscores the larger vision behind the initiative. “The Odisha Tata Archery High Performance Centre represents our commitment to nurturing grassroots sporting talent and transforming it into national excellence. The achievements of these young archers in such a short span reaffirm our belief that with the right infrastructure, coaching and support, Odisha can produce champions who will shine on the international stage,” he says.

From a coach’s perspective, the transformation has been remarkable. “The training provided here has been a game-changer, enabling children from across the state to excel in the sport. The dedication and passion of the cadets have resulted in several medals, and we remain committed to nurturing even more young talent,” notes coach Bikash Upadhya.

With plans underway to establish grassroots centres across Odisha and expand its cadet base, OTAPHC’s journey has only just begun. Yet, within twenty-two months, its arrows have already hit the bull’s-eye — instilling belief, breaking barriers and placing Odisha firmly on India’s archery map.