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
It all started two years ago
“I took up archery around two years ago, after watching some of my friends train at a vacation camp in school. I was reluctant initially since everyone else was able-bodied, but the coach Rohan [More] sir told me my physical condition does not matter as this sport needs upper body movements,” Rutvi tells
mid-day during a practice session at her school.
Coach More may have not told Rutvi the entire truth to begin with, but seeing her talent, he’s keen to keep working with her. “Archery requires upper body strength, that’s true, but it also needs a stable lower core and limbs. In Rutvi’s case, she has no control over the latter, but she more than compensates for that with her intense upper body training. She began with a Simple Wooden Bow, but on seeing her promising scores at junior level events [there are 36 arrows, each capable of earning a maximum of 10 points] where she was scoring an above average 280-plus points out of a maximum of 360, I decided to lend her my Basic Compound Bow. And in just two years, she has won medals at the division-level, district-level and state-level in the U-17 Compound category. But just like you cannot win a MotoGP race with a regular road bike, Rutvi cannot win major competitions with her Wooden Bow or even a Basic Compound Bow. She needs an Advanced Compound Bow which costs between Rs 4 to 5 lakh and has to be imported from USA. She will also need a new wheelchair [Rs 1 lakh] as the current one is not fit for professional archery,” explains More.
Basic Compound Bow (Rs 1 lakh) that Rutvi’s coach lends her; (right) The Advanced Compound Bow (Rs 4-5 lakh) that Rutvi requires
The physical handicap though is just one of Rutvi’s multiple problems.
Mum Suvarna, a single mother, whose husband left the family many years ago due to Rutvi’s rising medical expenses, fights tears as she talks about her little girl’s struggles. “From the time Rutvi was born, my husband and I used to have massive arguments, and eventually he left us as he felt she’s a burden. Every day is a tough day for Rutvi, but she’s a fighter. She has to constantly keep changing her sitting and sleeping positions for fear of bed sores. I have to keep emptying her urinary bladder every three hours as she cannot do it herself. During competitions, I have to attach a catheter with a urine bag. But I have no complaints, and nor does she. I will always be by her side and support her in whatever way I can. I’m grateful to Rutvi’s school principal Sister Leo Vinnarasi and sports coordinator Ram Ahiwale for helping with her attendance and adjusting her regular curriculum,” says Suvarna, who works as a freelance nurse, earning Rs 15,000 monthly, of which Rs 5000 goes towards Rutvi’s fixed medical expenses and R1000 is spent on her archery training. Whenever there are competitions, the travel and accommodation costs are additional. The mother and daughter live with her aunt and her family in a modest flat in Malad.
Coach More, a former international archer, has no doubt that Rutvi will eventually excel, not only at the national level, but also on the global stage. “Till date, Rutvi has been competing with able-bodied archers and has done well, which is an indication that she will excel when she takes on para athletes. We have not yet applied for her classification as a para athlete with the Paralympics Committee of India [PCI] because she will then have to attend their trials, meaning there is an additional cost of travel and training. But by early next year, we will apply for this and once she gets it, she can then compete in national para events, and I have no doubt that she will hit bullseye there,” said More.
Rutvi’s coaches, Rohan More (left) and Jagannath Shetkar
Big Paralympics dream
Rutvi meanwhile, continues to smile through her hardships. “My mother is working very hard for me. She is trying to save every rupee for my Advanced Compound Bow, but honestly, it’s unaffordable for us. It is my dream and ambition to one day represent India at the Paralympics and win a medal. I hope I can. That will be a big help for my mother,” Rutvi concluded.
Rutvi’s medal moments
. 45th Prabodhan Krida Mahotsav inter-school competition, Mumbai (11-14 Dec 2024): Silver medal
. State level school field archery tournament, Pune (Feb 9-10, 2025): Silver medal
. District sub-junior archery competition, Mumbai (Oct 26 2025): Bronze medal
Rutvi’s medical issues
. Rutvi suffers from Spina Bifida, a congenital condition of the spinal cord that causes paralysis of the lower limbs. Rutvi is paralysed from the waist downwards.
. Mum Suvarna has to keep emptying Rutvi’s urinary bladder every three hours. During competitions, she attaches a catheter with a urine bag.
. She has to constantly keep changing her sitting and sleeping positions for fear of bed sores.
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