Inspiring Intiative: NTPC commits Rs 115 crore for development of archery
By Susanta Kumar Dalai
New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: NTPC Ltd, India’s largest integrated energy company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with National Sports Development Funds (NSDF) and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) for the development of archery in India.
Shri R.K Singh, Hon’ble Cabinet Minister of Power and New & Renewable Energy along with Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Hon’ble Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Information and Broadcasting were present during the historic MoU signing ceremony. Shri Gurdeep Singh, CMD, Shri D.K. Patel, Director (HR) NTPC and senior officials were present on the occasion
NTPC has been supporting the Archery sport in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Archery Association of India (AAI) with an aim to provide world class facilities with international exposure & platform to the talented pool of Archers of India.
Under its CSR initiative, NTPC has committed Rs. 115 Crore in 5 years for development of Archery Sports. Out of total 115 Crore, Rs. 15 crore will be incurred as a one-time expenditure towards preparations of field targets, setting up of training centres and equipment like bow & arrow.
Further remaining Rs. 100 crore will be incurred as recurring expenditure in 5 years (Rs. 20 crore per year) towards the development of Archery from the grassroot level, training of identified talents, training of elite talents, development of high-performing coaches, procurement of FOP equipment, development sports & science lab compatible for Archery, Scholarships/ prize money for high performers, advance training/ competitive exposure/ foreign training & exposure to Sub-Jr./ Jr. Archers of Recurve and Compound Archers including Para Archers, etc.
NTPC has already been supporting Archery sports through an existing MoU. NTPC has supported Archery sports at National and International level since 2018. The agreement further extended up to the next Olympics in 2024. NTPC extends the support for organizing all National Archery Championships for Sub-Jr., Jr. and Sr. categories for both Men & Women
groups, National Ranking Archery Tournaments (NRAT), coaching facility, equipment, playing kits, among others.
With NTPC’s support, Indian Archers are participating in all International Tournaments like Asian Championships, World Cups, Circuit Championships, and performing well in all International tournaments and bringing laurels for India by winning medals at world level.
Archers won many International medals during this period and performed excellently in Tokyo Olympics and reached the Quarter Final which is considered to be India’s best performance in Archery to date. Indian archers showcased an exemplary performance in Tokyo Paralympics-2021 where Shri Harvinder Singh won Bronze Medal. In 2021, India was honored with 2 world records and Indian archers won a total 49 International Medals (20 Gold, 20 Silver and 9 Bronze) in all major International Tournaments including Paralympics.
