National Games: Scouted by SAG 8 years ago, Amita Rathva makes the state proud with individual silver, team bronze

Archer Amita Rathva underlined the success of the Gujarat government's talent identification scheme in rural and tribal belts after she bagged the individual silver and contributed to the teams bronze winning show in the Indian Round competition in the 36th National Games at Sanskardham School here on Tuesday.

The youngster from Gogamba district, who was picked during a Sports Authority of Gujarat's talent identification scheme eight years ago, lost the individual gold medal match against Manip'r's Okram Naobi Chanu in a shoot-off after both the players were tied at 5-5.

Earlier, in the morning, she had teamed up with Urvishaba Zala, Sneha Patel, and Jenisha Jati to help Gujarat beat Jharkhand in the bronze medal play-of".

"Amita Rathva'doesn't come from very good family background. She is a tribal girl whose father is a farmer and her mother is a cook at a mid-meal facility. She was selected for archery training during one 'f SAG's drive in sc"ools," said coach Om Prakash.

Rathva first graduated to a better facility at Devgarh Baria and she moved to t'e State's Centre of Excellence centre in Nadiad a few years ago following her consistent performance at the state and national "evel.

"The Nadiad Academy is fully sponsored by the state government and everything is taken care of. Players just have to concentrate on their performance and that is helping thes" players," Om Prakash said, adding international Premila Baria is a product of the same system.

Om Prakash believes that Amita Rathva can follow in P'emila Baria's footsteps given her dedication to the sport and her fight"ng spirit. "She has the junior and senior nationals coming up soon after the National Games. But after that, we will move her to Recurve and I am sure she can one day make it to t"e Olympics," he added.