Bhubaneswar: Odisha emering as a cradle of India’s next generation of archery champions.

At the centre of this transformation is the Odisha Tata Archery High Performance Centre (OTAHPC) in Keonjhar, a dedicated facility to identify, nurture and train young archers for the global stage.

Located at Sankarpur in Keonjhar district, the High-Performance Centre began with 24 cadets (12 boys and 12 girls) selected from remote districts. In just two years, its archers have secured 20 medals at state and national competitions, eight gold, eight silver and four bronze, while 14 athletes have progressed to the national level.

Further strengthening its competitive exposure, cadets from the Odisha Tata Archery HPC are set to participate in major national events, including the 1st Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 in Raipur, Chhattisgarh (March 25–April 3, 2026) and the Under-10, Under-13, and Under-15 National Archery Championship 2025 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh (March 26–April 7, 2026).Behind the winning numbers lie stories of transformation.

Arjun Khara, 22, from a farming family in a Naxal-affected village in Malkangiri, once never imagined a future in sports. Today, with access to professional coaching and modern facilities, he competes at the national level and aspires to represent India.

Similarly, Sita Hembram, 16, from Jajpur, who lost her parents early and takes care of her younger sister, has found renewed purpose through archery, turning adversity into ambition.

While the Keonjhar centre focuses on elite training, Tata Steel is simultaneously strengthening the grassroots pipeline.In Mayurbhanj, archery is deeply embedded in tribal tradition but lacked structured training. The Tata Steel Foundation, in collaboration with SLS School, established an Archery Feeder Centre at Pahadpur in May 2025. The centre trains 20 young students, many under 12, combining traditional skills with modern techniques while nurturing discipline, teamwork, and confidence.

“Through the Odisha Tata Archery HPC, we aim to build a strong pipeline of athletes who can bring glory to the nation. Our focus goes beyond performance to holistic development, ensuring every archer has the foundation to succeed,” said Mukul Vinayak Choudhari, Chief Sports, Tata Steel.