Limba Ram is a famous archer from India who represented his country at various international competitions including the three Olympics. He also equalled a world record in archery at the international level in the 1992 Asian Championships in Beijing. This archer is a product of Akhil Bharatiya Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram that is working for the socio economic development and upliftment of local tribes from India in the remote tribal areas of the country.
Early life of Limba Ram
Limba Ram, born on 30th 1972, in Saradeet Village, Jhadol tahsil, Udaipur District, in the Indian state of Rajasthan. His family comes from Ahari tribe, and as a result of poverty Limba Ram was used to hunt birds like sparrow, partridge and animals in jungle with his indigenous Bow (made of Bamboo wood) and reed Arrows. One of his uncles, in 1987, brought the news of government conducting trials in nearby village Makradeo to train good archers. 15 years old Limba Ram, along with three other boys, that include Arjuna award winner Archer Shyam Lal, were spotted by selectors of Sports Authority of India, in this trial. So, all these four boys were sent to Delhi for four months training camp (Special Area Games Programme) under coaching of R. S. Sodhi.
Career of Limba Ram
In 1987, Limba Ram was first spotted and trained by Sports Authority of India. In the same year he became overall Champion in National Junior Level Archery tournaments held at Bengaluru, in the state of Karnataka. The following year, 1988, he became overall champion in the senior level national tournaments and selected to represent his country for Seoul Olympics. He reached the quarter finals of World Championship held in Switzerland in the year 1989. In the very same year, he was at second rank in Asian Cup in Individuals and India got team Gold.
For the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, he helped India finish fourth. He also represented India in three Olympics. In the year 1992, he also equalled the world record of Takayoshi Matsushita in the Beijing Asian Championship in 30 meters event with score 357/360 to bag a gold medal. Indian Parliament, after receiving this message, congratulated Limba Ram. In 1993 at Barcelona Olympics, he missed the Bronze medal by one point in the 70-meter segment and finished with 10th rank. In 1995 he stood with second rank and team won Gold medal in Commonwealth Games held at Delhi. In 1996 he was National Champion with Asian Record.
After remaining almost unemployed for a more than few years, on 10th January, 2009, Archery Association of India signed one year contract and appointed Limba Ram as National Archery Coach for 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Awards Received by Limba Ram
Government of India honoured him with the Arjuna Award in 1991
Padma Shri in 2012
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