The closing ceremony of the 5th State Level Archery Championship 2026 was held at the Gyalwa Tsangyang Gyatso High Altitude Sports Stadium in Tawang on Monday, with Lieutenant General Neeraj Shukla, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 4 Corps, gracing the occasion as the chief guest.
A major highlight of the closing ceremony was the announcement by Lieutenant General Shukla regarding the Indian Army’s initiative to identify and nurture talented young archers from Arunachal Pradesh.
He announced that willing and deserving young archers identified through the championship would be provided opportunities for advanced training at the Army Sports Institute, Pune.
During the training period, the Indian Army will take care of their education, food and accommodation.
He further stated that under the proposed initiative, those who attain 18 years of age and wish to join the Army would be considered for direct recruitment.
The General also acknowledged the encouragement and support extended by Chief Minister Pema Khandu towards the initiative.
Highlighting the Indian Army’s commitment to sporting excellence, he stated that the Army was working towards nurturing young talent across six sporting disciplines and preparing promising athletes for upcoming national and international competitions in mission mode.
The selection process is scheduled to begin in Tawang by the end of October 2026.
The initiative is expected to open new avenues for aspiring sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh, enabling them to pursue excellence in sports while building a secure and promising future.
Addressing the gathering, ZPC Leki Gombu congratulated the participating archers and extended his best wishes for their future endeavours.
He encouraged the young sportspersons to remain dedicated, disciplined and determined in their pursuit of excellence.
He also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Pema Khandu for his continued support and encouragement towards the promotion of games and sports in the state.
Recalling the traditional roots of archery in the region, he observed that the sport was earlier largely practised during the Losar festival.
“Today, with growing institutional support and opportunities, aspiring youths can pursue archery as a professional career,” he said.
Before the prize distribution ceremony, Major General Amit Nautiyal, GOC, 5 Mountain Division, handed over 10 sets of archery equipment worth Rs 40 lakh to archers of Tawang district under Operation Sadbhavana.
The equipment included six sets of recurve bows and four sets of compound bows, providing a significant boost to the district’s archery infrastructure and training facilities.
The medals and awards were presented to the winners across various categories by MLA Tawang Namgey Tsering, Major General Amit Nautiyal, SP Tawang Tasi Darang, ZPMs, party presidents and other dignitaries.
The five-day championship witnessed outstanding performances, remarkable precision and exemplary sportsmanship from archers representing different parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
The conclusion of the 5th State Level Archery Championship 2026 marks another important milestone in promoting archery and nurturing sporting talent in Arunachal Pradesh.
Beyond medals and podium finishes, the championship highlighted the values of discipline, perseverance, confidence and sportsmanship.
The Indian Army’s initiative, coupled with the support of the state government and archery associations, offered renewed hope and opportunities for young athletes to excel at national and international levels.
The event concluded on an encouraging note, reaffirming the collective commitment of the Indian Army, state government, district administration and sporting bodies to strengthen sports infrastructure, identify emerging talent and create greater opportunities for the youth of Arunachal Pradesh.
