If you look from a distance, Rutvi Lolge stands out from a crowd of archers training at the Robinhood Archery Centre at the St Anne’s High School (Orlem) ground. That’s because she’s the only wheelchair-bound archer in the group. Then, if you go closer, you realise that she stands out again; this time for her precisely pierced arrows across the target face. Rutvi, 15, who consistently hits scores of eight points and above (out of a maximum 10 per shot), is a promising archer, but her health and financial condition are major deterrents.  
 
Rutvi, 15, a Class XI student of St Anne’s High School, was born with Spina Bifida, a congenital condition of the spinal cord that causes paralysis of the lower limbs. In Rutvi’s case, her lumbar three to five (bones in the spinal column) are damaged, meaning she is paralysed from the waist downwards. Her suffering, pain and inconvenience, however, are totally forgotten as soon as she picks up her bow.

Simple Wooden Bow (Rs 15,000) that Rutvi currently uses