Hritik Sharma’s will compete at World University Games, thanks to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board’s timely support

Navneet Singh
Promising compound archer Hritik Sharma, a college student from the rural Katra region of Jammu and Kashmir, had nearly given up hope of making his international debut at the World University Games in Germany, until the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board stepped in to fund his trip.
The World University Games are being held from July 16–27 across the Rhine-Ruhr region and Berlin, with a strong Indian presence expected. After being selected for archery, Sharma had to arrange Rs 2.5 lakh for his tour to Germany — as required by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) to compete in the global competition.
Sharma’s parents couldn’t afford such a large amount before the May 19 deadline. When he failed to secure financial assistance from Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, where he is enrolled in a BPEd course, Sharma had lost all hope of representing India in the prestigious competition.
That’s when his coach, Kuldeep Kumar Vedwan, approached the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for financial help and they readily agreed to fund his trip.
“I’m thankful to the Almighty and the Shrine Board for making this possible. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to make my international debut this year!” said Sharma when asked about the challenges he faced off the field.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board manages the Holy Shrine in Jammu and oversees the annual pilgrimage (Yatra), providing all possible facilities to the devotees.
“I had almost given up on my dream of competing internationally this year as my parents couldn’t contribute and I couldn’t arrange financial support from my university,” he told Sportsbackstory.com.
Sharma didn’t win a medal at the All India Inter-Varsity Archery Competition. Therefore, GNDU did not have provisions to fund his trip to Germany. However, Sharma finished third in the AIU selection trials, earning him a spot on the Indian team for the World University Games.
Sharma will be flying on July 18, with his archery competition scheduled from July 22–26 in Germany.
As per AIU rules, either the student or their respective university must bear the cost of participation in the World University Games.
When word spread about Sharma’s struggle in Katra, where he trains, his coach Vedwan stepped in to help. “My coach did all the running around to get financial approval from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board,” Sharma added.
In fact, Vedwan’s archery school—where Sharma trains—is located within the premises of the Shrine Board. Sharma is a regular trainee at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Complex in Katra and trains under Vedwan, who has been instrumental in guiding several archers to international success, including Paralympic medallist Sheetal Devi.
For the World University Games, Sharma has also received new equipment through support from a private sponsor. “It’s been four weeks since I got a new set of equipment. My scores have improved. I hope to do well in Germany,” Sharma said after one of his training sessions.
Sharma developed a passion for archery during his school days. He is considered a late bloomer.
Back in 2019, archery coach Kuldeep visited Sharma’s school in the Katra region, and Sharma eagerly joined a summer archery camp. “I was in class 11 and was advised to start compound archery. I’m happy that compound archery will be featured in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games,” the college-going archer said.
He began serious training in 2020 and won his first state medal—a gold—in 2021. Initially, he trained with borrowed equipment, as he couldn’t afford the high costs. Later, he managed to buy his own gear.
The archer from a village near Katra narrowly missed selection for the national team for the 2025 World Cups, but a major breakthrough came at the Uttarakhand National Games in February, where he finished second behind seasoned archer Rajat Chauhan. That result boosted his confidence and helped secure his spot at the World University Games.