KOLKATA, June 22:
With India set to compete in all four archery events of next month’s London Olympics after the men’s team made the cut, the country has the best chance to win a medal and script history, Archery Association Secretary General Paresh Nath Mukherjee said today.
The Indian trio of Tarundeep Rai, Jayanta Talukdar and Rahul Banerjee finished second to secure a team berth from the final qualification tournament for the Games held alongside the World Cup Stage III in Ogden, USA.
With this, the trio will compete in the individual events as well as the team championship while the women’s team of Deepika Kumari, Laishram Bombayla Devi and Chekrovolu Swuro has already qualified from last year’s World Championships.
“We are 100 per cent assured of a medal this time. Not just one, I’m expecting a few medals this time,” an elated Mukherjee told PTI.
“Archery has the best medal prospects. There are 12 teams here. Unlike athletics, we don’t have to play any heats and straightway approach the main round.
“Our archers (the men’s team) are peaking at the right time, while the women’s team had been doing well. We have our best chance this time,” he said.
Pointing out the rankings, he said: “Our women’s team is ranked second in the world, while the men’s team is fifth. Deepika Kumari is world number one.” (PTI)
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