Odisha archer Ranjit Naik has qualified to represent India in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games to be held at Nanjing in China. According to Odisha Archery Association secretary Sradhananda Das, 16-year-old Naik, a Plus-Two first year arts student of Bhubaneswar-based Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), qualified for the Youth Olympics by virtue of performing well in the cadet recurve individual qualifying round of the Youth World Archery Championship, which was held in Waxi in China from October 10 to 20.

India narrowly missed a bronze medal in the event, losing to Chinese Taipei by one point. Naik, who hails from Jadabani village of Mayurbhanj district, competed among the top 15 archers before finishing sixth.
Overall, India bagged one silver and four bronze medals in the Youth World Championship.

Both Naik and his coach Rajesh Hasdak, a former international archer, were accorded warm reception when they returned home today. Students and officials of KISS greeted Naik and Hasdak with bouquets here at the Biju Patnaik Airport.
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PHOTO: Odisha archer Ranjit Naik (Left) and his coach Rajesh Hasdak in Bhubaneswar on October 22, 2013.