National-level archer Sulekha Singh (18), out of practice for the past several months due to the lack of a recurve bow, may soon get her gear.

For, Nirsa and Dhanbad MLAs Arup Chatterjee and Raj Sinha have decided to fund Sulekha's recurve bow, which costs around Rs 2 lakh.

The legislators decided to help the girl, whose father is a roadside tea stall owner, after taking note of a report " Gear woes for ace archer" published in The Telegraph on May 25.

"We cannot let the talent of this girl go waste. So, I discussed the issue with deputy commissioner Kripa Nand Jha yesterday (Wednesday) and he told me to help the girl by providing money from the MLA fund," Nirsa MLA Chatterjee said on Thursday.

The MLA said the process of providing her the bow would be completed by this month.

"I have not yet contacted Sulekha individually but I am committed to helping her in every possible way," he added.

On his part, Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha said: "I discussed the issue with the secretary of District Archery Association Jubair Alam, who agreed to make a formal demand for financial help for Sulekha. The request for financial help has to come from a relevant archery association. After formalities are done, we will release the funds."

If there were procedural delays in releasing money from the MLA fund, then they might sponsor Sulekha's bow through individual contributions, Chatterjee chipped in. "I am a sports lover and I know several sports lovers who would want to help Sulekha," he said.

DC Kripa Nand Jha said they were exploring all possibilities to help Sulekha.

When contacted, Sulekha said she was extremely happy and relieved.

"I will start preparing for the state-level archery championship, which will take place from November to January so that I can qualify for the nationals," she said.

Sulekha had represented India in individual as well as team events during the 2013 Archery world cadet championship held in China and helped Indian archery team to qualify for the 2014 Youth Olympic. She had also won several gold medals in various national championships.

She got her first training at Tata Steel Feeder Centre at Digwadih in 2009. She then went on to win four medals, including a gold and two silver, in the Junior National Archery Championship held in Kharsawan from March 28 to 30, 2011, and got selected in Tata Archery Academy in Jamshedpur, where she practised with Deepika Kumari. Her training ended in October 2015.

Since then, her archery skills have been rusting because she can't afford a bow.

Last November, Sulekha joined Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya at Govindpur as a coach. Her daily pay of Rs 200 goes to support her family.