International archer Nagpur’s Ojas Deotale, who brought laurels to the nation and made the city proud by clinching three gold medals at last year’s Asian Games has decided to make his sport grow in the region. For this, the ‘golden boy’ of Nagpur did not hesitate in loosening his own purse strings to open an archery foundation. Come April 28, Ojas Foundation will become operational with an attempt to produce many more Ojas Deotales from the city and region. The foundation will conduct 10-day summer residential camp at Siddhivinayak School in Gumgaon, Nagpur. The camp, which is supported by Maharashtra Archery Association and District Archery Association, will be inaugurated by District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar at 10.30 am. Deputy Director of Sports (Nagpur Region) Shekhar Patil will be the guest of honour. World champion Ojas Deotale has decided to launch his own archery foundation which will impart coaching to the budding archers of the country. Arjuna awrdee Ojas will be utilising all the reward money he received from the government and well-wishers to train the archers at his foundation. “At present I will be using the reward money for the foundation. I have not contacted any corporates for sponsorships from their CSR funds,” said Ojas while interacting with the media on Friday.

 

“The idea to start a foundation came in my mind when I recalled my old days. There was no proper facilities and I had to face many problems. I decided that the problems I faced should not arise in front of other budding archers. That is the reason I am starting this foundation,” Ojas explained. This will be for the first time that city is hosting a residential camp for archery. “Almost all top archers of the country will be imparting coaching to the budding archers. With a nominal fee of Rs 8,000, the foundation will be providing equipment for practice, special training under the watchful eyes of top archers. “Those who cannot afford to buy archery equipment will get the same from the foundation for training,” he said. The camp is for children above 10 years. “We have received 10 entries and are expecting it to rise to 50,” hoped Ojas, who was flanked by his parents, mother Archana and father Praveen.

 

“Daily three sessions will be conducted and the foundation will try to discover the potential among the participants and to lift them up to another level. The main purpose of this camp is to produce more archers from Nagpur,” Deotale said. The 10-day long camp will see coaching from international coach Praveen Sawant, Arjuna awardees Jyoti Venam, Atanu Das, Deepika Kumari, Abhishek Verma, Aditi Swamy, international players Aman Saini, Rajat Chavan, Prathamesh Phuge, Prathamesh Javakar, Tushar Shelke, Olympian Tarundeep Rai and Praveen Jadhav. “Indian archers, coaches will guide the players on the nuances of archery, how to deal with physical and mental stress and importance of yoga and meditation in players life,” Ojas concluded.