Axis Bank and SSAIT Partner to Build India’s First Full-Scale Olympic Archery Center

In a historic milestone aimed at propelling grassroots sporting talent onto international stages, Axis Bank and the Sanjeeva Singh Archery Institute Trust (SSAIT) have officially joined forces. The organizations announced a partnership to establish India’s first-ever full-scale, Olympic-standard training facility, titled the Axis Bank Sanjeeva Singh Olympic Archery Center, located in Kanhauli, eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Project Significance & Infrastructure:
While rural and tribal regions of India harbor immense archery potential, elite training infrastructure has historically remained concentrated in major metropolitan hubs. Spearheaded by Arjuna and Dronacharya Award recipient Sanjeeva Singh, this center is designed to bridge that gap.

Situated just 45 kilometers from the Gorakhpur airport, the facility will serve as a vital regional hub for athletes hailing from eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. Spanning a multi-year timeline, the comprehensive project will feature state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor Olympic-grade ranges alongside advanced simulation systems. The infrastructure incorporates global standards inspired by institutions in South Korea, the United States, Britain, and Switzerland, supported by cutting-edge sports science facilities including 3D shot analysis and physical monitoring systems.

Future Outlook & Collaborative Vision:
Aligned with the central government’s Khelo India policy and Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) objectives, the academy is projected to host 100 resident athletes annually alongside over 300 domestic and international competitors. Backed collaboratively by Axis Bank, SBI Foundation, Indian Oil, ONGC, and the Asha & Sajjan Agarwal Foundation, the center will seamlessly integrate training, education, and accommodation under one roof to cultivate future Olympic champions from rural backgrounds.

Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, Vijay Mulbagal, Group Head of Wholesale Bank Coverage, Corporate Salary, Sustainability, and CSR at Axis Bank, stated that world-class infrastructure transforms raw athletic talent into pinnacle achievements, noting the bank’s commitment to building a permanent platform that prepares rural youth for global competition. Echoing this sentiment, Sanjeeva Singh, Founder and Managing Trustee of SSAIT, emphasized that giving back to society is the truest legacy, expressing his determination to ensure that future Indian archers never face the lack of co-located training, education, and lodging that he once experienced.