FOR 19-YEAR-OLD partial blind archer Arnav Narendra Bais, not being able to see the target clearly has never stopped him from finding it. After taking a year-long break from archery to prepare for the IIT-JEE examination, Arnav returned to the sport and has now earned a place in the Indian squad for the World Para Series in Ahmedabad. The event will be held from September 3 to 10, with Arnav set to compete in the visually impaired category. Visually impaired archery features two main competition classes governed by World Archery: VI1 and VI2/3. Classification is based on the degree of visual impairment, with VI1 for athletes with the most severe visual impairment and VI2/3 for those with partial vision. Arnav competes in the VI2/3 category. His latest achievement came at the selection trials conducted at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) National Centre of Excellence in Sonipat, Haryana, on June 24. “In our selection trials in Sonipat, only 10-12 para archers had participated.

 

Thus, the authorities decided to conduct the trials in the VI1 format, which required everyone to wear a full blindfold irrespective of their visual impairment classification,” Arnav told ‘The Hitavada’ on Friday. Arnav finished fifth in the trials but still secured his place in the Indian squad, with India being the host nation and therefore allowed to field more participants. Shooting blindfolded, however, is a completely different challenge. “When shooting blindfolded (VI1), we are given a tactile sight which touches the back of the wrist holding the arrow. The tactile feel helps us find the bullseye and make the shot,” explained Arnav. In the VI2/3 category, Arnav shoots at a target placed 30 metres away, with the target face measuring 80 cm in diametre. The Ahmedabad event will not be Arnav’s first selection for India. He was previously selected for the Dubai Asian Youth Para Games in December 2025.

 

However, with no competitors in his category, he returned without getting the opportunity to shoot. Arnav’s association with archery began much earlier. While studying in Class 3 at RS Mundle English School, he encountered archery coach Pralisha Patil during a summer camp. “I first picked up the bow during a summer camp at my school, RS Mundle. I was in Class 3 and was fascinated by the bow. I met my first coach, Pralisha ma’am, there and since then I have been practising archery,” he recalled. The early years were not easy either. “For nearly two years after joining archery, I did not have my own bow. I used to practice with borrowed bows.

 

After some time, my parents bought me a longbow,” Arnav said. “When I was in Class 6, my grandmother lent me money to get my own compound bow,” he added. Arnav has been training under Mohammed Zeeshan at Azee Sports Academy at Tajbag Sports Complex, the academy associated with Asian Games gold medallist Nagpur Ojas Deotale. Under Zeeshan’s guidance, Arnav has continued to develop his game and has already produced a score that has put him among the leading Indian archers in his category. His road to the international stage, however, was briefly interrupted when he decided to take a year off archery to prepare for the IIT-JEE examination. After not qualifying for the examination, Arnav returned to the sport. “I am pretty confident about my performance. Although shooting blindfolded is pretty tough, I will do my best to make everyone proud,” Arnav concluded. Arnav credited his selection to Maharashtra Archery Association’s Chandurkar, Deshpande along with Nagpur Archery Association Khaurke.