Bullseye: Hurdub Tiriya

Jamshedpur, June 12: This tribal boy from Lohahatu hamlet in West Singhbhum had no idea how far — or high — his arrow could whizz.

Hurdub Tiriya (17), a cadet of Steel Authority of India’s (SAIL) Eklavya Archery Academy in Kiriburu has earned a ticket for World Archery Youth Championships at Legnica, Poland, from August 22-28, all thanks to his scintillating show in the recently concluded selection trials in Calcutta.

“Bahut khushi ho rahi hai. Videsh jaane ka mauka mila hai. Accha karne ki koshish karunga (I’m very happy. I got a chance to go abroad. Will try to perform well),” the shy teen said.

Hurdub’s fellow cadet Sumita Kumari, who claimed team gold in the recently concluded 3rd Asian Grand Prix in Dhaka, has represented India in the world meet in Turkey (2008) and the United States (2009).

This year, Hurdub’s selection has brought smiles to the faces of academy functionaries who attribute his success to sheer hard work and ability to excel in crunch situations. “Hurdub has come a long way. Initially, I had doubts about his talent, but he dispelled them,” said academy coach Rajendra Guiya.

Recalling the day Hurdub arrived at the Kiriburu cradle seeking admission in 2008, Guiya said the youngster looked malnourished. “His school uniform was in tatters, his slippers worn-out. He had a broken tiffin box that had no food. And he looked thoroughly confused,” said the coach.

Not surprising, as from his Lohahatu hamlet in Majgaon block under West Singhbhum district, he walked 30km to reach Majgaon to catch a train to Barbil and then boarded a bus sent by SAIL for the Kiriburu cradle.

“He was just an utterly tired and impoverished 14-year-old boy back then,” Guiya said.

According to EAA co-ordinator Navin Sonkusare, Hurdub’s mother lives in sheer penury. “Hurdub’s mother is a widow. The boy regularly sends her money from his monthly stipend of Rs 700 that he gets from the academy. A youngster from such a poor family going to a world meet is a big thing,” he added.

The ace shooter has to troubleshoot in ways his fellow archers at Legnica would find hard to fathom. Coach Guiya said Hurdub spent his stipend to repair his kutcha hut after an elephant herd damaged it.

“He’s very attached to his mother and his village,” the coach added.

Now, authorities are making arrangements for his passport to Poland. Needless to say, Hurdub doesn’t know anything about Legnica, the university town in south-western Poland with wide promenades and imposing churches.

“He has never gone abroad,” said the coach. “But Hurdub, who is an emerging archer on the national circuit, has already made a long journey by coming this far. The trip abroad will not faze him,” he added.

Meanwhile, Legnica waits for the Lohahatu boy. Take a bow, Hurdub.