Archery Coach Purnima Mahato Honored with Prestigious Padma Shri
Purnima Mahato, a renowned archery coach from Jamshedpur, receives the Padma Shri for her significant contributions to the sport, joining the ranks of esteemed awardees.
JAMSHEDPUR – Purnima Mahato’s illustrious career in archery began when she took up the sport at the age of 11, leading to numerous national and international accolades.
Throughout her journey, she has won medals, set records, and stood out as the Indian National Archery Champion.
Her excellence in archery coaching was first acknowledged in 2011 with the FICCI Best Coach Award and later with the Dronacharya Award in 2013.
Since 2000, as the coach of the Tata Archery Academy, Mahato has played a pivotal role in shaping Indian and state archery teams.
She attributes her success to the unwavering support of her family, Tata Steel, and her late parents, R.R. Mahato and Usha Rani, acknowledging their significant influence on her career.
Expressing joy and gratitude, Mahato thanked everyone who contributed to her journey towards this prestigious achievement.
Mahato’s career as a coach, spanning over a decade, has been marked by producing excellent archers and notable achievements.
In a blend of disbelief and gratitude, she reacted to the news of her Padma Shri award, initially finding it hard to believe the call from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Jamshedpur’s veteran mountaineer Pramila Agarwal, a previous Padma Shri recipient, precedes Mahato in receiving this honor.
The Central Government, on the eve of Republic Day, announced the Padma Awards, celebrating Mahato’s extraordinary contributions in archery.
