Ranchi, May 20: A good archery set, used by Olympians, comes for about Rs 1 lakh. The cost of preparing a bow-and-arrow set, being used by the tribals in Jharkhand since ages, does not exceed Rs 100. Now, with Re 1 you can hit the bull’s eye.

For the first time, traditional arrow shooters of Jharkhand have been invited for a three-day archery jamboree slated from June 7 to June 9 at Birsa Stadium here. The entry fee is a mere Re 1. Up for grabs are 12 prizes, six each for men and women in juniors and seniors category, of Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000. All that an archer needs to do is to land up at the venue on the scheduled date, of course with a bow and an arrow. The organisers would take care of the rest.

Named the First Jharkhand Traditional Archery Competition, the newly-constituted Jharkhand Adivasi Khel Sangh has been trying hard to enlist participants for the tournament. The organisers expect an attendance of around 3,000 participants who would be provided boarding and lodging facilities free of cost.

“We want to revive the dying sport of traditional archery. Bows and arrows have historically been the best friends of tribals in Jharkhand. Bows and arrows are not merely for tribal defence, but from part of a sport as well. It is only recently that guns and pistols have made an entry into rural Jharkhand,” said Jayant Jaipal Singh, the general secretary of the association. Jayant, the resident representative of Tata Steel in Ranchi, is the son of Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda, who laid the foundation of the Jharkhand movement in the late ’40s.

“Our objective is not to produce mainline archers. But if there are exceptional talents, opportunities would open up for them. Apart from a technical committee, the Tata Archery Academy will monitor the performance of traditional archers on the three days. If we succeed, the effort to revive traditional sports will be extended to other events,” Jayant said.

The competition will be held in four groups for men and women. The senior group would be for those who are 20 years and above, while the juniors would be below 20 years.

“Only personal bows and arrows will be used for the competition. The use of borrowed bows and arrows will not be allowed,” said Amar Kumar Biruli, vice-president of the association and a Tata Steel employee.