PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, April 13: Steel city is hosting the maiden Khelo India Women National Ranking Archery Tournament under the aegis of the Archery Association of India (AAI) and Jharkhand Archery Association (JAA).
The two-day event kicked off at the JRD Tata Sports Complex on Tuesday.
Hosted by the Tata Steel sports department, the tourney promises overall prize money worth Rs. 37.5 lakhs to be distributed amongst the rank holders.
The highest prize money is Rs. 5 lakhs for the winner of the Senior Recurve category.
The two-day event is witnessing the participation of approximately 300 women archers from 20 states and units who will compete in three different categories.
During the inaugural ceremony, Ruchi Narendran, a socialite and wife of Tata Steel MD praised the Khelo India initiative on formalizing a dedicated all-women group for competition and encouraged the archers with her motivating words.
Narendran spoke about how women have been at the forefront when it comes to India’s Olympic medal tally as well.
She appreciated the TAA officials and members of the sports organizing committee for their efforts in hosting the event.
Preeti from the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) ranked first in the Recurve Senior event while Rekha Sakharam Landkar from the All-India Police Sports Control Board (AIPSCB) ranked first in the Compound Senior event.
The prize distribution and closing ceremony are scheduled for late in the evening today.
