Bhawanipatna(Swaraj Agrawal) : The CBSE Far East Zone Archery Championship 2026 concluded successfully at the campus of Vikash Educational Institution, Bhawanipatna. The valedictory ceremony was graced by D. Shyam, Director of the institution, as the Chief Guest. The programme was attended by D. Ram Kumar, Director; D. Padmini, Chief Education Officer; Yubaraj Nayak, Chief Administrator; Dushmanta Majhi, Chief Supervisor; Arati Mishra, Principal of Vikash Residential School; Narayan Mohanty and Prasanjit Dutta, Vice-Principals; and Gupteswar Khuntia, Manager, among other dignitaries. Organised by Vikash Residential School, Bhawanipatna, one of the leading educational institutions in Kalahandi district, the championship was held from 24 to 26 July 2026 under the CBSE Games 2026. The prestigious sporting event witnessed the participation of more than 350 talented boys and girls, team managers, and coaches from CBSE-affiliated schools across 11 states of the Far East Zone.Competitions were conducted in the Under-14, Under-17, and Under-19 categories across the Indian, Recurve, and Compound divisions. The championship marked the first-ever zonal-level archery tournament hosted in Kalahandi district, making it a landmark event for the region.To ensure the smooth conduct of the championship, eight experienced officials from the Odisha Archery Association, along with ten volunteers, provided technical support throughout the event.Addressing the gathering, the dignitaries emphasised that the championship was not only a platform for showcasing sporting excellence but also an opportunity to instil discipline, concentration, and character-building among the participants.The programme began with a welcome address and introduction of the guests by Chief Administrator Yubaraj Nayak. Vice-Principal Prasanjit Dutta presented a comprehensive report on the three-day championship, while Vice-Principal Narayan Mohanty proposed the vote of thanks.During the ceremony, the institution honoured all the technical officials and scorekeepers for their valuable contribution. Medals were then presented to the outstanding performers in various categories.In the overall team standings, Sainik School, Bhubaneswar emerged as the runners-up, while Army Public School, Assam secured the championship title by winning the highest number of medals.Although Vikash Educational Institution introduced archery training only two years ago, its archers achieved a remarkable feat by winning nine medals, bringing pride and honour to both the institution and Kalahandi district.Expressing his satisfaction over the successful organisation of the first-ever zonal-level archery championship in Kalahandi, Director D. Shyam stated that the institution now aims to host international-level sporting events in the future.
