After a long gap of 48 years, the 45th NTPC Senior National Archery Championship returns to the city of Hyderabad. The event will be held at the historic Begumpet Hyderabad Public School from December 11 to 18.
Prominent Andhra Pradesh archers like Dhiraj Bommadevara and Jyothi Surekha Vennam will be seen in action during the championship.
After the first Senior National Archery Championship held in 1978, it is a matter of great pride that this prestigious national event is returning to Hyderabad after a long gap of 48 years, Telangana Archery Association president T Raju said on Wednesday.
A total of 43 units — including all states and union territories — are participating in this Senior National Championship. He said that 971 archers, both men and women, will showcase their talent in this competition. He also added that the 45th Senior National Archery Championship will bring together extraordinary talent from across the country.
Raju described these competitions not just as a championship but as another significant milestone in the history of Indian archery and added that the Telangana Archery Association stands as a strong support to the Telangana state government in its mission to secure Olympic medals.
Under the leadership of Revanth Reddy, the state government aims to secure Olympic medals, and the Archery Association is working with that goal in mind. He reiterated their commitment to develop India into a powerful archery nation capable of winning Olympic medals.
He also expressed gratitude to the presidents and secretaries of various state archery associations, jury members, coaches, archers, and representatives of the Archery Association of India for supporting the conduct of such a grand event after 48 years.
Objectives of the championship: Discovering new talent across the country, encouraging archers from rural & tribal areas, ensuring equal opportunities for all, elevating Telangana’s young talent to the national stage, building a strong Indian team for the 2028 Olympics.
History of Indian Archery
Archery in India traces its roots to ancient warrior traditions. In its modern sporting form, Indian archery began developing officially with the conduct of the first Senior National Championship in Delhi in 1973. From the 1980s onwards, Indian archers started delivering strong performances on the international stage. India has made significant progress in all three divisions — Recurve, Compound, and Indian Round. The inclusion of Compound Archery in the 2028 Olympics has opened new opportunities for Indian archers.
