Jamshedpur: Six months into recurve, tribal archer from Seraikela-Kharsawan Gora Ho, 17, is already donning the jersey for India.

Switching from Indian round to the more sophisticated and globally accepted recurve bow last September has paid rich dividends to the talented teen from Seraikela-Kharsawan as he is among the 21-member Indian team for the Asia Cup to be held in Bangkok from March 2 to 9.

Fondly called Golden Boy for his winning streak in the Indian round, Gora will debut in the junior recurve section.

Last year, the state government gave him the sophisticated bow that cost Rs 2.70 lakh.

"Mera sapna pura ho gaya (It's a dream come true)," said Gora about his chance to represent the country after performing well in the trials held in Rohtak recently .

"Parantu abhi mujhe desh ke liye achha karna hoga. Pehli baar videsh ja raha hoon (But I have to do well for my country. I'm also going abroad for the first time)," said Gora, a boy from Balijuri village in Rajnagar block and now a cadet at Pune-based Army Boys Club.

This former cadet of the government-run archery cradle in Dugni, 35km from Jamshedpur, said he owed a lot to his mentor B.S. Rao. "Sir (Rao) told me to switch to recurve for a global career," Gora, son of a paralytic father and homemaker mother, said.

Mentor Rao said his ward truly deserved a slot in the national side. "I am hopeful of his stellar show. Gora has adjusted well with the recurve bow," said Rao.

Currently in Jharkhand for passport application at Ranchi regional office, Gora said he would submit his application on Monday. The Archery Association of India has also requested the office to process his application at the earliest for Bangkok.

Gora shot to fame in 2014 as an Indian round archer to claim three gold medals at the 60th National School Games in Ranchi and followed it up in 2015 will 10 more at the 11th Jharkhand State Archery Championship in Jamshedpur. He also won many mini, sub-junior and junior national championships. In 2015, he received the National Child Award from then President Pranab Mukherjee.