Kolkata archery academy launched at Gholshapur Railway Colony by Eastern Railway
Synopsis
Eastern Railway has broken ground on a modern archery academy at Kolkata's Gholshapur Railway Colony — a facility backed by the legacy of Olympians Dola Banerjee and Bombayla Devi, both ER employees. The move signals a structured push to convert railway infrastructure into a competitive sports pipeline for West Bengal.
Key Takeaways
Eastern Railway GM Milind Deouskar laid the foundation stone of a new archery academy at Gholshapur Railway Colony, Kolkata on 25 July .
The academy will offer scientific coaching and world-class infrastructure to railway employees, their families and community sportspersons.
ER's archery alumni include Arjuna Awardee Dola Banerjee , Padma Shri Bombayla Devi and Rahul Banerjee .
Gholshapur already hosts a stadium, sports complex and an Olympic-size swimming pool , forming a multi-sport hub.
The academy targets archers competing at district, state, national and international levels.
Eastern Railway (ER) General Manager Milind Deouskar laid the foundation stone of a new state-of-the-art archery academy at Gholshapur Railway Colony in Kolkata on Saturday, 25 July, marking what officials described as a significant step in nurturing future champions from within the railway ecosystem.
What the Academy Offers
The facility will function as a modern training centre providing scientific coaching, world-class infrastructure and professional guidance to railway employees, their families and budding sportspersons from the wider community. Officials said the academy aims to prepare archers to compete at district, state, national and international levels.
Gholshapur already houses a stadium, a sports complex and an Olympic-size swimming pool, making the archery academy a natural addition to an emerging multi-sport hub within the railway colony.
Eastern Railway's Archery Legacy
The choice of archery is not incidental. Eastern Railway has a distinguished history in the sport, counting among its employees Arjuna Awardee Dola Banerjee, Padma Shri Bombayla Devi and Rahul Banerjee — names that have represented India on the global stage. Also present at the ceremony were Arjuna Awardee Mangal Singh Champia and Dronacharya and Arjuna Awardee Ali Qamar, whose careers continue to inspire a new generation of archers.
Ceremony Highlights
The event began with the unveiling of the foundation stone and the academy's name plaque, followed by a traditional coconut-breaking ceremony. Deouskar then took the ceremonial first shot with a bow, symbolically launching a new chapter in ER's sporting journey.
The gathering included Devender Kumar, President of the Eastern Railway Sports Association (ERSA) and Principal Chief Electrical Engineer, along with the ERSA Secretary, Principal Heads of Departments, senior railway officers, renowned coaches and members of the railway sports fraternity.
What Officials Said
Addressing the ceremony, Deouskar said the academy reflects Eastern Railway's commitment to identifying and nurturing sporting talent from an early age. He described archery as a sport that builds concentration, discipline, patience and self-confidence while improving physical fitness, balance, coordination and mental well-being — qualities that make it suitable for people of all ages.
Shibram Majhi, Chief Public Relations Officer of Eastern Railway, said the academy represents another milestone in ER's sustained efforts to promote sports as an instrument of youth empowerment. 'Through initiatives such as the Archery Academy, ER continues to reaffirm its commitment to building a healthier, more vibrant and sports-oriented society by investing in talent, encouraging excellence and creating opportunities for future champions,' Majhi said.
Broader Impact
The academy is positioned as an inclusive, non-contact facility open to children and young adults, with officials emphasising its role in encouraging healthy lifestyles and emotional resilience. With Eastern Railway's proven track record of producing national-level archers, the new centre is expected to serve as a pipeline for competitive talent from West Bengal and beyond. The next milestone will be the commencement of construction and the appointment of a coaching panel.
Point of View
And formalising that into a training centre could deepen that pipeline. The real test, however, is governance: whether the academy secures a full-time coaching staff, a competition calendar and transparent selection criteria, or remains a prestige project that underdelivers on structured output. India's Olympic archery results have been underwhelming relative to its talent base, and a railway-backed centre in Kolkata could either address that gap or add to a long list of well-intentioned but under-resourced facilities.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the new Eastern Railway archery academy located?
The academy is being built at Gholshapur Railway Colony in Kolkata, a site that already includes a stadium, a sports complex and an Olympic-size swimming pool. The foundation stone was laid on 25 July by Eastern Railway General Manager Milind Deouskar.
Who will be eligible to train at the Gholshapur archery academy?
The facility is open to Eastern Railway employees, their families and budding sportspersons from the broader community. Officials described it as an inclusive, non-contact training centre suitable for people of all ages.
Which famous archers are associated with Eastern Railway?
Eastern Railway counts Arjuna Awardee Dola Banerjee, Padma Shri Bombayla Devi and Rahul Banerjee among its employees — all prominent figures in Indian archery. Arjuna Awardee Mangal Singh Champia and Dronacharya and Arjuna Awardee Ali Qamar also attended the foundation stone ceremony.
What level of competition does the academy aim to prepare archers for?
According to Eastern Railway officials, the academy is designed to help archers compete at district, state, national and international levels through scientific coaching and modern practice facilities.
What is the Eastern Railway Sports Association's role in the academy?
The Eastern Railway Sports Association (ERSA), headed by President Devender Kumar, was represented at the foundation stone ceremony and is part of ER's broader sports promotion mandate that underpins the academy initiative.
