For, Bharath, an ITI student, who suffers from speech and hearing disability, aiming and shooting an arrow at the target was like a dream come true.

“I had watched it in television serials like Ramayana and Bharabharata . Today, I was fortunate to touch and feel the bows and arrow, and take aim at the target”, said Bharath, a native of Kyathsandra in Tumakuru district, who is pursing his studies at the ITI set up by the National Association for the Blind (NAB) in Mysuru.

About 20 students of the institute participated in the archery camp organised by the International Academy of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (IAMAS) and Rotary Mysore Midtown in association with NAB at Seervi Samaj Trust on KRS Road on Sunday. The camp was held exclusively for the benefit of visually challenged and speech and hearing impaired students, said adventure enthusiast and IAMAS Founder D.S.D. Solanki.

Many participants in the camp hoped that such programmes are held frequently. While Anil Kumar, Panjak Mallick and Arjuna of IAMAS provided training in archery, Lohit R. Gopal and Sreerama communicated with the children in sign language.

Accomplished Bharatnatyam artiste Sowmya Govind Naidu, who kicked off the archery programme by shooting the first arrow, appreciated the initiative by IAMAS for boosting the morale of children with disabilities.