As fire crackers burst, slogans like “Ritul Zindabad” rent the air in Vijayalakshmi Colony in Autonagar on Monday. The young trainee archers of Volga Archery Academy celebrated the selection of their senior archer Ritul Chatterjee as one of the three members of the Indian compound team that will take part in the Commonwealth Games to he held in New Delhi from October 2.

All the hard work of Ritul, who made Vijayawada his home to nurture his archery skills, paid off as he sealed his place in the Indian team.

Along with Ritul, former Volga academy trainee Ch. Jignas, who is now representing the India Army and bagged the second place in the final selection trials, and Tamil Nadu's C. Sridhar, who took the top spot, make up the Indian team.

“We spotted him at the mini national held here in 2008.

He enrolled in the Volga Archery Academy and won many medals for India. His selection will help the sport grow multifold,” said academy chairman Ch. Satyanarayana, speaking from Kolkata, where the selections were held.

Mr. Satyanarayana said that he promised to produce an archer who would earn his slot in the Indian team.

“I am so happy that I fulfilled my promise. Before participating in the Commonwealth Games, Ritul took part in World championship held at Shanghai in China on August 27,” he said.

Asian medallist and senior national champion Ch. Lenin said that the role played by Vijayawada Municipal Corporation in the development of archery in the city was laudable. “The erstwhile Commissioner P.S. Pradyumna, present Commissioner G. Ravi Babu and Krishna District Olympic Association Secretary K. P. Rao were very helpful. The archery field at Mahanadu road is a perfect playfield for archers as there is no interference when they practise. We had a torrid time at IGMC stadium as we were afraid of the misfired arrows hurting other sportsmen,” he said.