Telangana’s Tribal Archers Turned a Bow-and-Arrow Tradition Into 150 Gold Medals

In Telangana's Khammam district, many children learn to use a bow and arrow long before they ever see an archery range.

For generations, the bow has been part of everyday life for the Koya and Gond communities, used for hunting, protection and survival in the forest. Today, that traditional skill is helping shape a remarkable sporting legacy.

Over the years, archers from Khammam have won more than 150 national-level gold medals, transforming a practice rooted in daily life into one of the district's biggest sporting success stories.

This summer, that legacy is continuing with nearly 400 students enrolled in archery training camps across the district.

From forest skill to sporting strength

Khammam has earned a unique place in Telangana's sporting landscape. The district has the highest concentration of archery training centres in the state, with programmes running through Sports Schools in Kinnerasani and Kanchanapalli, Eklavya Model Residential Schools in Kothagudem and Dammapeta, and two dedicated Khelo India Centres in Khammam and Palvoncha.

But this ecosystem did not emerge overnight.

P Shankaraiah, secretary of the Khammam District Archery Association, has spent decades scouting archery talent in remote tribal areas.

It grew from a skill that was already deeply embedded in local communities. Coaches say many tribal children are naturally comfortable with the bow and arrow because they have grown up watching elders use it. As a result, formal training often builds on skills that already feel familiar.

This has created a strong pipeline of young talent that coaches can nurture and refine.

The man who helped build a movement

Much of Khammam's archery success can be traced to P Shankaraiah, a retired sports officer from the Integrated Tribal Development Authority and one of Telangana's most influential archery mentors.

Now serving as secretary of the Khammam District Archery Association and a development committee member of the Archery Association of India, Shankaraiah has spent decades travelling to remote tribal areas to identify promising young archers.

His mission has always been clear.

“Lack of opportunities, proper coaching, guidance and encouragement in rural areas is hampering their progress. We must identify hidden talent in rural and tribal regions and provide scientific training from a young age,” he says.

With nearly 400 students training this summer, Khammam's archery camps are shaping the district's next generation of champions.

Among the athletes he has mentored is G Morappa, the first international archery medallist from the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh.

The names behind the medals

Khammam's success is reflected in the achievements of its archers.

Aniga Durgaiah from Kothagudem became a national record holder and won gold at the All India University Archery Meet. Karam Kanakaiah went on to represent India at the World Archery Meet in 2010, demonstrating how local talent can reach the international stage when supported with the right coaching and opportunities.

A new generation is now following in their footsteps. E Avanthika and K Lohitha Sri have been selected to represent Telangana at national championships, while several others continue to compete at state and regional events.

For the district, every achievement reinforces the connection between a traditional skill and modern sporting success.

Looking ahead to 2036

The summer training camps currently underway are about more than just learning a sport. They are helping identify future talent while introducing children to the discipline required for competitive archery.

With 400 students training this season, Khammam is investing in the next chapter of its archery story.

Shankaraiah believes the coming years will be crucial, especially as India pursues its bid to host the 2036 Olympics.

“To reach Olympic standards, a child requires at least 10 years of continuous training, discipline, physical fitness and mental strength,” he says.

For many young archers beginning their journey today, that dream may still be years away. But in Khammam, where the bow and arrow have long been part of everyday life, the foundations are already in place.

All images courtesy of TNIE

Sources:

'Archery and P Shankaraiah are just inseparable': by Telangana Today, Published on 14 May 2026

'Khelo India Centres to come up in erstwhile Khammam': by Telangana Today, Published on 7 December 2022

'Four-day State-level archery competitions begin in Khammam': by Telangana Today, Published on 20 February 2026

'Telangana archery team named for Tribal Sports Meet in Delhi': by Telangana Today, Published on 18 February 2026

'How India's First-Ever Tribal Games Are Putting Indigenous Sports on the National Stage': by The Better India, Published on 26 March 2026