Kendrapara: The district administration is planning to implement a scheme to promote sports talents in the spheres of archery among the tribal people living from the region.

Their intrinsic talent was on display at the local archery competition held on the Makar Sankranti day at Mahakalpada.

District sports officer Loknath Panigrahi said these young archers were exceedingly talented and would shine under proper guidance. He said: "Young boys and girls performed commendably by hitting the target. They are talented. There is the need for imparting training to them so that they are able to take part in archery events and excel in the game. The department will seek the services of a coach to sharpen up their archery skills."

"Some of the participants performed exceptionally. There is the need to provide them with bows and arrows, better equipment, facilities and financial support," he said.

They used bows to propel arrows in a scintillating performance of archery in front of a huge number of spectators. They struck the target with meticulous ease. I was privileged to watch the superb archery show. The government agencies need to nurture these skilful archers," said Bijoy Kumar Shukla, a former sarpanch.

Hundreds of onlookers appreciated the archery performance that was organised during the annual cultural event in the predominantly tribal-inhabited Lunimathia village in Mahakalpada tehsil limits.

"The archery competition was organised on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. The annual festival provides us the opportunity to worship and pay obeisance to Mother Earth," said the head of the community, Prasan Murmu.

"Both the tribal boys and girls are very good in archers. If trained properly, they can go places," said Shukla.