Katra, September 17,2026– The junior category of the third NTPC National Ranking Archery Championship 2026 began on Wednesday at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Stadium. Organised by the Archery Association of Jammu and Kashmir, the national-level championship is witnessing participation from a large number of young archers from across the country.
A Star-Studded Inauguration
Katra SP Kameshwar Puri attended the inauguration as the chief guest, while SDPO Katra Dr Bhishma Dubey was present as the guest of honour. The ceremony marked the formal beginning of the junior category events, following the conclusion of the senior category finals earlier in the tournament, which had already drawn considerable attention from archery enthusiasts and sporting officials across the region.
A Championship of National Significance
The championship features several national and international medal-winning athletes, along with Arjuna Award winners and archers who have represented India at the Olympic level, underscoring the calibre and prestige associated with the event. The tournament, organised under the aegis of the Archery Association of India and the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, in collaboration with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, has established itself as a significant fixture on the national archery calendar.
The overall championship, spanning both senior and junior categories, is being held over an extended period at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Sports Stadium in Katra, drawing over a thousand archers from across India competing in Compound, Recurve, and other event categories.
Venue with a Strong Sporting Legacy
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Complex in Katra has, over the years, developed into a significant hub for archery and other sporting disciplines in the region. Established under the Shrine Board’s social responsibility initiatives, the facility was designed to promote sports and healthy competition among the youth of Katra and beyond, while also providing pilgrims visiting the shrine an opportunity to engage with sporting activities during their stay.
The complex has previously nurtured notable sporting talent, including Paralympic medallist Rakesh Kumar, a native of Katra associated with the Shrine Board’s Sports Complex, reflecting the facility’s growing reputation as a breeding ground for competitive archery talent in Jammu and Kashmir.
Encouraging Young Talent
The junior category of the championship offers an important platform for young archers to compete at a national level, gain exposure to high-quality competition, and showcase their skills alongside some of the country’s most accomplished names in the sport. Officials associated with the tournament have emphasised the importance of such platforms in identifying and nurturing emerging talent, particularly among young athletes from Jammu and Kashmir who may otherwise have limited opportunities to compete against national-level competition.
Strengthening J&K’s Sporting Infrastructure
The hosting of a national-level championship of this scale in Katra also reflects the growing sporting infrastructure being developed in the region, with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Complex increasingly being recognised as a venue capable of hosting major national tournaments. Such events not only provide a platform for athletes but also help boost the visibility of Jammu and Kashmir as a venue for high-profile sporting competitions.
A Platform for Aspiring Champions
As the junior category competition gets underway, young archers from across the country will compete over the coming days, with many hoping to follow in the footsteps of established champions and Olympic-level athletes participating in the broader championship. The event is expected to conclude with a series of high-intensity finals, showcasing the depth of archery talent emerging from across India’s junior ranks. Coaches and mentors accompanying the young athletes noted that competitions of this scale offer invaluable experience, helping junior archers understand the pressures and demands of top-tier competitive archery well ahead of their senior careers.
