Shillong, Feb 26: Devraj Mohapatra won gold in the men’s recurve category at the NTPC Khelo India North East Zone Open Archery Tournament here today.
The Archery Association of Meghalaya (AAM), under the aegis of the Archery Association of India (AAI) is hosting the North East Zone event at the Sports Authority of India Shillong Training Centre archery range on the NEHU campus.
While the recurve division was held today, tomorrow will be given over to compound archery. Over 120 archers from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim have registered for the tournament.
In the recurve division, the qualifying rounds were held in the morning, followed by the elimination rounds and medal matches in the afternoon.
Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla was the chief guest and gave away the prizes to the winners.
In the women’s recurve final, Yumnam Anupama Devi of Manipur took gold by 6 points to 2 over Vesevolu Swuro of Nagaland. In the battle for bronze, Kevikieno Rikha of Nagaland won in a shoot off against Yaikhombi Thongam of Manipur.
The men’s final then followed with Meghalaya’s Devraj taking the gold by 6 points to 0 against Manipur’s Keithellakpam Rohit Meitei. The bronze medal match was an all-Meghalaya contest between Vivek Sunar and Hypormi Wanniang, with Vivek winning 6-2.
Other dignitaries present today included KB Gurung, General Secretary of the Sikkim Archery Association and AAI Vice-President; Olympian and Arjuna awardee Chekrovolu Swuro, who is also President of the Nagaland Archery Association and AAI Vice-President; Rupesh Kar, General Secretary of the West Bengal Archery Association; and Matsiewdor War Nongbri, AAM Chief Adviser.
This is the third consecutive year that the AAI is holding this tournament. Conducted across five zones, the tournament continues to serve as a key developmental initiative aimed at providing wider competitive exposure and strengthening the participation base of archers from state associations, sports boards and associate members.
(Archery Association of Meghalaya photo)