City-based Volga Archery Academy archers went on to prove that they have not lost the sting after the untimely departure of their coach Ch. Lenin by helping Andhra Pradesh win the compound men's team gold medal at the 31st Cherukuri Lenin Sahara senior National archery championship that concluded on Wednesday. Both Ritul Chatterjee and Sunendhu Roy along with I.R Sanam of Hyderabad tamed the best teams on their way to the coveted yellow metal, despite no quality coaching. The fifteen-year-old Ritul won four gold medals and a bronze in the event.
“In fact they (the archers) were helping themselves during their practice sessions. Lenin must be guiding them from heaven as Andhra Pradesh have cemented their place as the undisputed leader of the compound segment,” said an emotional Cherukuri Satyanarayana, the man instrumental for the successful conduct of the mega event.
The sudden death of Mr. Lenin orphaned the young archers as they lost not only a coach but a mentor and a guide. The untiring efforts of Volga Archery Academy to rope in the Korean coach Lim Chae Woong has not distracted the young archers as they look more determined to win more medals with their sterling performances.
Top Archery Association of India administrators, reputed coaches and archers hailed the contribution of Volga Archery Academy in the promotion of the sport.
Three-time Olympian Limba Ram said that after Tata Archery Academy, Lakshmi Mittal Academy, Army Centre at Pune, it was Volga Archery Academy that was producing champion archers at the national and international levels. “But the irony is all those academies are funded by institutes like Tatas, Lakshmi Mittal Trust and Ministry of Defence, but Volga academy is functioning owing to the will power of Mr. Satyanarayana,” he pointed out.
Archery administrators felt that Vijayawada must be made the hub of archery activities in the South India by roping in talented coaches. “There is hectic activity in Vijayawada as many parents are evincing interest in archery. The success of Deepika Kumari, Dola Banerjee, Mangal Singh Champia and others has inspired many youngsters getting attracted to the traditional sport,” felt Mr. Satyanarayana.
“As Vijayawada is centrally located and several trains pass through the city from all corners of the country and flights operate regularly, this city should be nurtured in a proper manner as archery centre,” felt archery administrator.
