In a remarkable display of skill and precision, two-year-old Dolly Shivani Cherukuri has set a new national record in archery, earning a place in the India Book of Records.
Dolly, who turns three next week, became the youngest Indian to score more than 200 points in a trial event held on Tuesday. She fired 36 arrows at a target 5 meters away and then repeated the feat at a 7-meter target, amassing an impressive total of 388 points.
The event was witnessed by senior sports officials and representatives from the India Book of Records, who lauded her achievement. “We are all very proud of her. We are very impressed,” said Archery Association of India official Gunjan Abrol.
Dolly was born through surrogacy following the tragic death of her brother, international archer and coach Cherukuri Lenin, in 2010. Her father, Cherukuri Satyanarayana, who runs an archery academy in Vijayawada, revealed that her training began from birth. “When we knew she was on her way, we decided to mould her as an archer. The preparations started when she was in the womb itself,” he said.
To accommodate her small frame, special lightweight carbon arrows were crafted. Experts confirm that young children are trained using lighter bows, with sessions limited to a few hours a day.
Photographs released by the India Book of Records show Dolly proudly holding her gold medal and certificate. “My daughter achieved the feat we have been dreaming of… I can’t express in words how happy my family is,” Satyanarayana said, adding that they now aim to have her name entered into the Guinness World Records.
