Ranchi, June 13: In recognition of Ranchi University’s efforts to promote archery in colleges and the state, Jharkhand Archery Association (JAA) has invited pro vice-chancellor Anand Bhusan to attend the second Asian Circuit meet in Malaysia, from June 16 to 20, as an observer.

Archery coach of Ranchi University Harendra Kumar Singh, who is training archers at the University Archery Training Centre has been appointed the coach of the Indian archery team for the Malaysia archery meet, another first for the university.

It was the result of Anand Bhusan’s leadership and initiative that the Archery centre was opened at Ranchi Co-operative College, which was inaugurated by the governor of Jharkhand, secretary of JAA Sanjeev Singh said.

Ranchi University hit the headlines when a girl from West Bokaro, Reena Kumari, also a student of Jamshedpur Women’s College, was selected for the Athens Olympics. Anand Bhusan had given her two hi-tech bows for the meet.

“In fact, she used one of the bows to earn a place in the Indian archery team for the Athens Olympics,” Sanjeev Singh said.

At the recent All India University games at Jamshedpur, Reena Kumari won the individual gold.

The Ranchi University men’s team comprising Subhash Hansda, Ramavdhesh and Bulbul Marandi had won the gold in the boys’ team event. Both feats were firsts for the university.

“The India team for the 2nd Asian Circuit meet in Mayalsia has three Ranchi University boys, Bulbul Marandi, Jayant and Rahul. Jyoti Kumari, another student of Graduate College and two students from Jamshedpur Women’s College also show great promise. The pro vice-chancellor has sanctioned Rs 50,000 for a bow for Jyoti, ” Sanjeev Singh said.

“In fact, the entire archery movement in the university owes a lot to Anand Bhusan,” Singh said.

In his letter to Bhushan, dated June 1, 2004, Singh said, “As Ranchi University is going to bid for the Inter University Archery championship, the JAA would like to request you to attend the second Asian Circuit meet in Malaysia as the university observer,” Singh said.

Exposure to officials and archers alike at the international level will help in popularising the sport in colleges and the state.

Hence, attending the Asian Circuit meet gains immense importance, Singh has suggested.

The Association of Indian Universities (AIU), too, has recognised Ranchi University’s consistent performance at the all India inter-university championships in different games like cricket, volleyball, hockey and archery, and placed it among the top 12 universities in the country for special assistance in promotion of sports and creation of infrastructure.