The Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday felicitated the Indian archery contingent which excelled at the World Archery Championships held in Hertogenbosh, Netherlands last week. India earned an Olympic berth and bagged three medals.
India won one silver and two bronze medals at the event, making it the best-ever medal haul in an archery world championship. India had won two silver medals in the same event in 2015. The silver was won by the men's recurve team comprising Atanu Das, Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav.
Das made his international debut in 2008 and is ranked 22 in the world. He was also a part of the last Indian men’s recurve team that won a silver medal in the world championship in 2005.
Jadhav began his career as an athlete before shifting to archery. Son of a labourer, he gave credit to the government for supporting his efforts.
In the women’s category, Jyothi Surekha Vennam won India’s first individual medal in women’s compound archery when she clinched a bronze following a shoot-off win over Turkey’s Yesim Bostan. Vennam is also a trained swimmer and entered Limca Book of Records at the age of four for crossing the Kaveri river three times.
Speaking on the occasion, Rijiju said, “I am very happy that the men’s team has already won an Olympic quota, and even the women archers are very confident. India has traditionally been very strong in archery and if we can win an Olympic gold in the sport then we will be able to prove that. The government is going to extend all assistance to these players, and also to those who have performed well in other sports and have the potential to win an Olympic medal. We will provide whatever support the athletes ask for – be it in coaching or technical facilities.”
Besides extending all training support, Sports Authority of India is also making arrangements for a mental trainer for the team to help the athletes improve their focus and skills, in preparation for the Olympics.
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