Young archers Sahil and Shrey look to raise the bar after a golden haul

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) Kolkata, a breeding ground of several accomplished Olympics archers in the past, now has two more promising names on the assembly line — Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Shrey Bhardwaj. Fresh from their medal hunt at the FISU World University Games and World Police and Fire Games, both now want to raise their game with an eye to Los Angeles 2028.

The SAI National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) Kolkata felicitated both Sahil, who clinched gold and silver medals at the FISU World University Games in Germany, and Shrey, who won a hattrick of golds at the World Police and Fire Games in the USA.

“The final was incredibly tense and every arrow counted,” Sahil told the media about his maiden international medal in compound archery. “I just tried to stick to my process and what my coach Haresh Kumar taught me. Seeing the flag go up while on the podium is a moment I’ll never forget. My coaches told me that winning the gold was important and am happy that I kept my concentration,” he said.

The Kolkata NCOE currently has 47 archers training here: 30 in recurve, 15 in compound and two in para archery. In the last two years, NCOE Kolkata archers have won 23 national gold medals and 5 golds in global tournaments.

The spotlight was on 24-year-old Sahil of Maharashtra, who won one of the two gold medals India garnered at Rhine–Ruhr over 16–27 July. He won the gold in the men’s individual compound event after eliminating Ajay Scott of Great Britain in a tight final (149–148). He then finished the men’s compound team event with a silver, after a closely contested (232–231) tie with Turkey.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Shrey won the recurve gold in outdoor, 3D and field archery categories. The 3D format is a unique category where archers have to figure out the targets in semi-darkness.

SAI Kolkata has traditionally produced top archers ever since Limba Ram grabbed the headlines with his talent in the late 1980s. From a junior national champion to becoming Asian champion in 1992, Limba Ram trained at Kolkata’s SAI centre throughout. Olympians Deepika Kumari, Atanu Das and Bombayla Devi have also trained here.

Olympians Bombayla Devi and Mangal Singh Champia, who were present at the felicitation event, felt the Indian archers have turned a corner — but also stressed the need for mental strength during high-pressure moments.

Bombayla Devi, who has participated in three Games, said, “It’s inspiring to see young archers rising to the occasion and winning big for India.’’

2008 Olympian Champia, a multiple World Cup gold medallist, added: “They’ve shown the kind of discipline and skill that defines champions. We’re proud of them.”