Raipur, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday witnessed the signing of an agreement between the Jashpur district administration and NTPC Limited to establish a state-of-the-art Archery Academy in the district. The academy, valued at ₹20.53 crore, will be constructed under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of NTPC at Sanna Pandarapath in the Bagicha block.
The pact was signed at the Chief Minister’s camp office in Bagiya by Collector Rohit Vyas and Bilash Mohanty, NTPC’s Additional General Manager (Human Resources). The academy is specifically designed to train a new generation of archers, with a focus on identifying and developing talent from tribal and rural communities.
Chief Minister Sai hailed NTPC’s contribution, stating that the academy will “open new doors for Chhattisgarh’s youth.” He emphasised Jashpur’s immense potential in archery and expressed confidence that the institution would provide young athletes with the necessary platform, training, and facilities to shine at national and international levels.
Linking the initiative to a national aspiration, the Chief Minister mentioned India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games. He expressed his vision: “We want to see Chhattisgarh’s players on India’s Olympic team, winning medals, making the state and the nation proud. That vision begins with institutions like this.”
The Chief Minister also reiterated the state’s incentive policy for Olympic medalists, ₹3 crore for gold, ₹2 crore for silver, and ₹1 crore for bronze and mentioned the revival of the Rajya Khel Alankaran to recognise exceptional talent. He informed the gathering about the launch of new Khelo India training hubs and a focused strategy for developing sports infrastructure in tribal regions. Sai added that while “Archery is not new to us, it is woven into India’s cultural and mythological legacy,” the new academy will blend that timeless skill with modern science and coaching to craft world-class archers.
Spanning 10.27 acres, the Sanna Pandarapath academy will offer a complete ecosystem for nurturing talent and discipline. Its facilities will include an outdoor archery range, athlete hostels, staff quarters, a skills development centre, an organic nursery, a herbal plantation, a library, a medical facility, and dedicated training grounds.