Former archer Lin Laishram discusses returning to the sport as an archery team owner and nurturing talent with institutional support. She recalls how suffering hyperextension in her right elbow was a difficult time
Randeep Hooda (second from left) cheers for his team; (right) Lin Laishram
Long before Lin Laishram became an actor and entrepreneur, she was an archer until an injury compelled her to take a step back. Today, she is back in the world of the sport — this time as the owner of Prithviraj Yodhas, a team she co-owns with actor and her husband Randeep Hooda in the Archery Premier League (APL). “Archery in India has evolved so much. When I was playing, there were hardly any coaching systems or infrastructure,” she recalls.
At 10 years of age, Laishram was selected for Tata Archery Academy. But her budding career took an unexpected turn when she, in her teens, developed hyperextension in her right elbow. “It got worse over time. Every time I released the string, my arm would scrape and bleed,” she remembers. It made her pull out of competitive archery. She says, “I had to quit. That was one of the hardest decisions of my life.”
Today, as she returns to the sport in a new role, she believes Indian archery is poised for global recognition thanks to organised leagues, corporate participation, and media visibility. “Earlier, Dola Banerjee and Purnima Mahato achieved greatness on their own. By the time Deepika Kumari and others came along, there was already a system, foreign coaches, and planning in place. We’re finally giving the sport the attention and respect it deserves. Archery has always been a part of our culture, so it’s only right that we nurture it.”
For her, owning a team isn’t about fame or titles; it’s about creating future champions. She puts it best when she says, “This time, I’m not holding the bow, but I’m helping others aim higher.”
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