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Ankita, Mani Ratnam, Aditi Triumph at National Ranking Archery Tournament

The 2026 National Ranking Archery Tournament concluded successfully in Kochi, Kerala, bringing together the country's top archers. In the senior categories, Ankita Bhakat won the recurve women's event, while Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam and Aditi Gopichand Swami topped the compound men's and women's rankings, respectively. The tournament, held from February 10-19, is a key phase in the national ranking structure and aims to nurture world-class talent. AAI officials praised the event for expanding the sport's footprint and strengthening India's competitive archery framework.

Key Points: National Archery Rankings: Ankita, Mani Ratnam, Aditi Win

  • Top archers from across India competed
  • Event held at Sacred Heart College, Kochi
  • Crucial for national rankings & talent development
  • Featured senior, junior, and sub-junior categories
  • Highlights depth of Indian archery talent
3 min read

Ankita, Mani Ratnam, and Aditi claim top spots in National Ranking Archery Tournament

Results from the 2026 National Ranking Archery Tournament in Kochi. Winners include Ankita Bhakat, Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam, and Aditi Gopichand Swami.

"The successful hosting... reflects the growing strength and geographical expansion of Indian archery. - Arjun Munda, AAI President"

Kochi, Feb 20

The third edition of the National Ranking Archery Tournament, one of the largest domestic competitions conducted by the Archery Association of India, concluded successfully at Sacred Heart College, Ernakulam, Kerala, bringing together top archers from across the country.

The senior categories witnessed high-quality competition, with Dhiraj Bommadevara (SSCB) securing Rank 1 in Senior Recurve Men, followed by Rahul (SSCB) and Mayank Kumar (Haryana).

In the recurve women's event, Ankita Bhakat (Jharkhand) claimed the top spot, ahead of Simranjeet Kaur (Punjab), while Olympian Deepika Kumari (PSPB) finished third.

The Senior Compound Men category saw Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam (Andhra Pradesh) emerge victorious, with Rishabh Yadav (Haryana) and Kunderu Venkatadri (SSCB) completing the podium. In Senior Compound Women, Avneet Kaur (Punjab) secured Rank 1, followed by Aditi Gopichand Swami (Maharashtra) in second place and Maya Bishnoi (RSPB) in third.

Among the standout performers in the junior categories, Navneet (Haryana) secured Rank 1 in Junior Recurve Men, Pragati Bhagat Shinde (Maharashtra) topped the Sub-Junior Recurve Girls category, and Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam (Andhra Pradesh) claimed Rank 1 in Junior Compound Men.

Held from February 10 to February 19, 2026, the tournament forms a crucial phase of AAI's national ranking structure. Conducted in multiple phases across different regions of India, the National Ranking Tournament plays a pivotal role in shaping national standings and strengthening the competitive framework of Indian archery.

Kochi's hosting of the event marks an important step in expanding the sport's footprint in Kerala. The tournament not only attracted elite athletes but also provided young aspirants in the region an opportunity to witness high-performance archery at close quarters.

Arjun Munda, President of the Archery Association of India, said, "The successful hosting of the National Ranking Tournament in Kochi reflects the growing strength and geographical expansion of Indian archery. At AAI, our focus is on building a robust domestic competitive structure that consistently nurtures world-class talent from every region of the country. Kerala's enthusiastic participation and seamless hosting further reinforce our vision of taking archery deeper into India's sporting ecosystem."

Echoing this sentiment, Virendra Sachdeva, Secretary General, Archery Association of India, said, "Significance of the National Ranking Tournament is that it brings together India's leading archers from seasoned internationals to promising juniors, on one competitive platform. This convergence of experience and emerging talent elevates the overall standard of competition and reinforces the unity and depth of Indian archery. Such tournaments play a vital role in preparing our athletes for national and international challenges ahead."

The competition featured participation from leading state units and institutional teams, reflecting the growing depth of talent across India and highlighting the strong technical standards guiding the next generation.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul R
Heartening to see the tournament held in Kochi. Expanding the sport's footprint beyond traditional hubs is crucial. Hope this inspires many young kids in Kerala to pick up the bow and arrow.
D
David E
Interesting to see Thirumuru Ganesh Mani Ratnam win in both Senior and Junior Compound Men? That's a rare double! Must be a phenomenal talent. The depth in compound archery seems to be growing well.
A
Aditya G
While the results are impressive, I hope the AAI is also focusing on the infrastructure and coaching at the grassroots. We have the talent, but need systematic support to convert these national wins into consistent Olympic medals.
S
Shreya B
Congratulations to all the winners! Aditi Gopichand Swami securing second in compound women is a big achievement. Maharashtra is producing some fine archers. Jai Hind!
M
Michael C
The national ranking structure seems to be working. Bringing together seasoned internationals and juniors on one platform is the best way to raise the overall standard. Good job by the organizers in Kerala.

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