National Games: India’s best archers brace up for a hard challenge

The National Games will serve as an important year-ending event for India’s best archers. Tarundeep Rai, Atanu Das, Ankita Bhagat, V. Jyothi Surekha and Komalika Bari will be some of the most prominent names in action.

Triple Worlds silver medallist V. Jyothi Surekha will compete in the National Games. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A majority of the top archers of the country - barring Olympian Deepika Kumari - will treat the National Games, beginning at the Sanskardham ground here on Friday, as a year-ending event. The Games will test the archers ahead of an important year.

Olympian archers Tarundeep Rai, Atanu Das, Pravin Jadhav, Jayanta Talukdar and young talent Parth Salunkhe - among men - and the talented Ankita Bhakat, Komalika Bari, Ridhi Phor and Dipti Kumari - among women - will be some of the prominent names who will be seen in action in recurve competitions.

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“It’s a top level event in the country and my training at Pune has been good,” said Tarundeep.

“The National Games will give me a chance to check where I am,” said Atanu.

But archery followers will miss the experienced Deepika Kumari, who has chosen to take a break.

In the compound section, the decorated Abhishek Verma, Rajat Chauhan and Aman Saini - among men - and Triple Worlds silver medallist V. Jyothi Surekha, Priya Gurjar, Muskar Kirar, Avneet Kaur and Pragati - among women - will be some of the attractions.