Archers attend a yoga session in a preparatory camp ahead of the National Games at Jusco School in Bistupur, Jamshedpur. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, July 13: Improving physical fitness seems to be the stress area for coaches training archers who have booked their berths in the on-going training camp as part of the preparations for the forthcoming National Games in Jharkhand.

And coaches seem to be banking heavily on the techniques of yoga and meditation.

Attention to shooting would be given later and archers would first concentrate on a three-phase camp. Despite rigorous training all through the day, archers feel energetic and attend yoga classes in the evening.

From daily runs and push-ups to various technical exercises, the five-odd coaches are leaving no stones unturned. Coach Harendra Kumar told The Telegraph that apart from regular physical exercises, meditation sessions are also held to improve their concentration-level.

The state sports department has allocated funds up to Rs 97 lakh to various sports associations for preparing their players for the forthcoming Games. The department has asked for a detailed three phase-wise action plan from these associations and funds for the first phase was released. The Jharkhand Archery Association has been allotted a sum of over Rs 7 lakh for training the archers. Based on that, the latter initiated the camp that began on June 28 and lasted for two months.

Based on their performance in nationals and state championships, 48 archers have been selected for camps at Jusco school, Bistupur. Kumar said all the three camps would continue for two months each.