Tribal girls from Adilabad shine in archery, eye Olympic glory | Fusion - WeRIndia

In a remarkable shift from the past, where indigenous communities were often overlooked in sports, tribal girls from the erstwhile Adilabad district are making their mark in archery.

These young archers are winning medals at both state and national levels, demonstrating their exceptional talent and determination.

Among these rising stars, Tekam Laxmi stands out. She is a student at Chinchughat Ashram School and a member of a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.

Laxmi won a gold medal at the School Games Federation of India tournament in Thorur, Warangal district. Her outstanding performance at the state level earned her a spot in the national-level SGFI tournament for under-17s in Gujarat, where she continued to excel.

Laxmi’s achievements in 2022 were equally impressive. She clinched gold medals in the 20m, 30m, and overall championship categories at the Tribal Welfare sports meet.

Not only that, she also participated in a national-level championship tournament organized by the Sports for Change HCL Foundation in Chennai. Laxmi and another student from Chinchughat Ashram School won gold and silver medals in that tournament.

Pendur Rupa, a Class 8 student, also made her mark by winning a gold medal in the 30m category at the national championship in Chennai.

She has consistently performed well in tribal welfare sports meets and inter-society league tournaments, securing multiple medals.

Another talented archer, Siddam Srija, a Class 7 student, earned a silver medal in the 20m category at the Chennai championship. She also won gold medals at the tribal welfare sports meet in Eturunagaram and other events.

These young archers credit their success to the dedicated coaching they receive at Chinchughat Ashram School. Their ultimate goal is to compete in the Olympics, and they are committed to the hard work required for that.

Their coach, Kathle Maruthi, has been a driving force behind their success. In addition to managing his agricultural work on the school premises, he provides free coaching for two hours each morning and evening.

Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Utnoor and other private organizations have been providing the necessary equipment for these young athletes.

The District Collector and other officers have also been actively encouraging these students. They are also lauding their achievements.

Some political leaders proposed establishing an archery academy in the district to support tribal and other interested students further. They urge the support of the central government in this regard.

Image Credit: 4028mdk09, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archery_shooting_at_a_WA_target_in_Northern_Baden,_Wuerttemberg,_Germany.jpg