In a boost to archers who missed action in view of the pandemic, the Jharkhand Archery Association is set to resume its operations in February 2021, with already kicking off the required spadework. The institute has earmarked Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Ranchi to hold competitions among the sub-junior, junior and senior categories.

The authority discussed the resumption of events and other issues in a meeting chaired bhai Association President and Union tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda at JRD Tata Sports Complex earlier this week. Munda has also held the role of the president of Archery Association of India (AAI), apart from being the state chief minister.

Seraikela-Kharsawan District Archery Association secretary Suman Chandra Mohanty, who was present at the meeting, said they were seriously looking to resume competitions from February next year.

“We are awaiting the state government’s Covid-related guidelines for resuming our programmes. We are told that the government would allow an assembly of 200, including players and officials, for a competition. The guidelines will be announced soon,” Mohanty said.

Keeping in mind the criteria related to the guidelines, the authorities have decided to hold competitions for sub-junior, junior and senior separately at different venues, Mohanty, who is also the joint secretary of AAI, said.

“We have earmarked Jamshedpur, Bokaro and Ranchi for the state level championships. These venues would separately play host to the three competitions,” he explained.

Earlier, the state championships involving sub-junior, junior and senior sections were held at a single venue and on the same dates.

The official said that discussions regarding the spread of the sport across Jharkhand and channelising the skills of players were also held in the meeting.

“Presently, archery is conducted in 15 districts but we intend to take the sport to rest of the nine districts, including Latehar,” he said.

Separate officials will be appointed at the districts and data would be prepared of all the archers to give shape to the endeavour of the state archery outfit.

Archers have found themselves deprived of activity ever since the activities were withheld due to the pandemic in March, and the association says it is important to bring them into action.

“A sizable section of our archers are out of action for months now. In archery or any other sport, practice is key. By conducting state competitions the archers will find ample opportunity to try and fit into their groove once again,” an official of the Jharkhand Archery Association said.

“The events will also pep up their confidence level and prepare them for other competitions to be conducted next year. The pandemic has already robbed our archers of a platform to showcase their talent. Covid has had a heavy blow on them,” the official, who wished to be anonymous, said.