Meghalaya, which loves its legalised traditional ‘Teer’ gambling but ironically has insignificant presence in professional archery, has opted to use next year’s National Games to promote the sport in a big way.

For the last one-and-a-half years, the State has invested well in spotting talent, providing them equipment and planning to build an archery centre. Former India coach Mim Bahadur Gurung has played an active role in encouraging youngsters to take up the Olympic discipline.

“When I came here, there were just six targets and about 20 archers. We scouted in all 12 districts, including the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills. After six months of training, they started producing results in different domestic events,” Gurung, Meghalaya’s chief coach, told The Hindu.

“In ‘Teer’ gambling, archers shoot with rudimentary bows and arrows while sitting. It has been there for ages but is different from professional archery. Changing this culture and interest can bring us medals.”

But, Gurung, hailing from Siliguri, is realistic about Meghalaya’s target in the National Games. “The level is quite high in India. If our archers show improvement, it will be an achievement,” he said.

Gurung, who is overseeing the training of more than 70 archers from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Khelo India and state-run programmes, thanked the Meghalaya government for its wholehearted support. “The equipment costs in lakhs. The government provided imported equipment to all the recurve and compound archers, apart from those who train with Indian bows. The total cost was ₹4.5 crore.”

He revealed that there was a plan to turn the Parade ground, the venue of the ongoing National championships here, into a dedicated archery centre.