Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad archer Isaiah shines

Standing tall: Isaiah R. Sanam.

HYDERABAD: Even in this moment of despair, when lovers of sport in India are forced to come to grips with the fact of the Indian hockey team failing to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, there is something to cheer about, especially for the Hyderabadis.

For, archer Isaiah R. Sanam came up with an impressive performance to finish second in the qualifying rounds to make it to the first-leg of the World Cup championship in 70m individual Olympic Round (compound bow category).

This event is to be held in Dominican Republic from April 1

After this, for the second-leg, the competition will be in Croatia, from April 15.

This archer, who trains under the SAAP consolidated coach P. Ravishankar on deputation in Sports School (Hakimpet), achieved this rare distinction with his showing in the selection trials for the top eight archers to pick the four-member Indian team held in NIS Institute (Kolkata).

And, this performance is no flash in the pan considering his recent record as those who are familiar with his achievements can well attest.

Some of his notable achievements include gold in the third Asian Grand Prix in Iran in 70 m individual Olympic round gold and in the team championship silver in the same event and a bronze in the Senior nationals.

Ravishankar believes that he doesn’t believe only in imparting skills to his trainees.

There is need to go beyond that and plan with the right attitude in order to bring victory within grasp, always keeping in mind the competition that will have to be faced.

“Mind management and execution of the given plan with meticulous preparations are the key to the success of any individual - be it in life or sport,” he insists.

To his delight, he has found that Sanam has been responding to his scientific training in style over the last three years since he has been with him.

This has undoubtedly gone a long way to make sure that their common goals in the competitions that have to be faced have been achieved in large part.

For his part, Sanam says that representing India in the World Cup is a huge honour.

“It is an inspirational achievement which should only spur me to aim big and live up to the expectations,” he remarked.

In a city where the sport is essentially thriving thanks to the ambience provided on the premises of Sports School, with Dr. K. Narsaiah, Special Officer of the School, giving unstinted support, Ravishankar feels his job is half done thanks to the wonderful atmosphere the archers train.

“We have quality equipment on hand for the benefit of the archers and all that we look for is constant exposure," he reminds, even while never cribbing at the harsh reality of being a consolidated coach with a salary of Rs.10,000 while those who draw double than that amount have very little to look back to with a sense of pride.

It is a pity that this archer can not go to the Olympics for his favourite event doesn’t figure in the Games.

Still, this Ravishankar-Sanam combination can well be the defining chapter in Andhra Pradesh sports history if the archer, a qualified pilot gunning for a World Cup gold, produces something very special.

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