TAA plans to induct educated archers as they stand a better chance of winning medals

Jamshedpur, Sept. 22: The state archery association has decided to induct archers with brains as well as brawn, as they stand a better chance of bagging medals at international meets.

This was based on a study conducted by the state body on the achievements of some top-bracket archers.

According to Jharkhand Archery Association (JAA) secretary Sanjeeva Singh, the pressure on the archers has mounted due to increased interest in the sport in the recent years.

?We have found that educated archers stand a better chance in any championship. Our study is based on the success rate of educated archers. Education makes a person more confident. This makes a difference,? he added.

Most of the archers, who have won medals in prominent international meets, had some form of formal education.

?Archery is all about the balance of mind and body,? he said.

Singh, who is also the joint secretary of the Archery Association of India (AAI), said archers with formal education take less time to grasp technicalities involved in the game. They don?t feel overawed by the presence of top archers during a meet, he said.

?Education helps to enhance grasping power. One cannot rely on body muscles alone to bag medals in national or international competitions,? he said.

Asked how they would rope in educated archers, Singh said they have already begun scouting for talents in schools and colleges.

?We are focusing on schools now, but will soon move on to the colleges. We are also holding counselling sessions in schools to encourage students to choose archery as a career option,? he said.

Singh, a former international archer and pivotal figure in starting compound archery in the country, said they have also arranged for bows and arrows to hold coaching camps in schools.

?We also depute our coaches to train the students. Inter-school archery competitions are being held to generate interest among students,? Singh added.

According to him, the JAA would try to select archers on the basis of some basic criteria, including interest of students and their parents in sports as well as education.

?Interest of parents in sports activities is very important ,? he said.

Singh, however, said there are exceptions who have come up with top performances without any formal education.

?Take the case of Limba Ram. He had no formal education but still managed to win medals in international meets. Similar example can be found among athletes as well,? Singh said.

According to him, the JAA would also focus on students of schools in other districts.

?We want to develop medal-winning archers who can achieve success in the 2012 Olympic Games. Educated archers can do the trick,? Singh said.