Tripura’s sports academies: from the northeastern periphery to national podiums

Tripura’s athletes returned from the last national games with their best medal haul in decades — the payoff of a network of district academies that identify talent in school sports meets.

The state’s archery programme, run on a modest budget, has produced national champions and a Commonwealth Games hopeful.

Coaches say the key is early identification: ‘We cannot build huge stadiums. We can find a 12-year-old with a steady hand and give her a bow.’