Vijayawada, October 24: Indian compound archery team coach Cherukuri Lenin died while his former ward and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Ritul Chatterjee escaped unhurt in a road accident at Jupdi village near here in the wee hours today.
Lenin was returning to Vijayawada along with Ritul after being felicitated by Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan and Chief Minister K Rosaiah in Hyderabad last night.
Lenin, a former international archer, was 27.
The accident occurred when Lenin, who was driving a Scorpio, lost balance of the vehicle which hit a road divider, near Jupudi under Vijayawada Police Commissionerate limits, at around 1:30 am leading to his instant death, police said.
Lenin’s other wards Chittibomma Jignas won a silver medal in the men’s compound category in the CWG along with seasoned archer Chinna Raju Srither.
Lenin, who retired from the sport around two years ago, had won many medals in national and international events, including in the Asian Archery competitions.
He had been running the ‘Volga Archery Academy’ at Vijayawada in memory of his sister Volga. Volga, who was also an archer, died in a road accident around five years ago.
Lenin, son of Krishna District Archery Association founder President Cherukuri Satyanarayana, has been involved in producing and encouraging many national and international archers through the Volga Archery Academy.
–Agencies