PUNE'S YOUNG
ARCHERS MAKE THEIR MARK....!!
Archery is a sport that improves
concentration levels and keeps you focused on goals in life, claim archers and
coaches in the city. The success and recognition for Indian archery at
international tournaments has spurred young archers to aim higher.
Ranjeet Chamle of Archer’s Academy is also
an archery coach at D.P.S. The academy currently boasts of a tally of 86
national medals. “Mental strength is as important as being physically fit,” the
coach explained of his players’ successes.
These young archers gather at a school
ground in Mukund Nagar every evening and start with exercises to increase their
stamina and upper body strength needed to hold the heavy poundage bows as well
as develop a strong core to attain the required balance. They then practise
with different bows according to their skill and choice.
The equipment for the sport is quite
expensive as the compound bows cost about `1.5
lakh and an arrow would be about `2000. But archery
academies in the city are willing to provide support and equipment to encourage
budding talent. Sanand Mitra of Vayam Academy said, “We hope that it will
create greater awareness for archery and also train talented archers to help
increase the country’s medal tally.” The academy will be setting up more
centres in Pune and also providing exchange programmes and summer camps for
archers.
Pune is fast becoming one of India’s
important archery centres. The Army Sports Institute is a regional training
centre for the Archery Association of India (AAI) and the national archery team
holds regular practises at Balewadi.
-Divya
Mangwani
