Date:10/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/10/stories/2008051055231900.htm

Sport - Archery

Champia, Dola, Bombayla confirmed for Olympics

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The Archery Association of India (AAI) on Friday confirmed that Mangal Singh Champia in the men’s section and Laishram Bombayla Devi and Dola Banerjee in the women’s category will represent India in the Beijing Olympics in August.

The third name in the distaff side will be decided by Saturday after the two-day trials end at the SAI, Eastern Centre.

The third archer who was instrumental in getting India a berth in the ladies section, Chekrovolu Swuro, is struggling to find form.

In fact, she finished outside the top eight at the Meerut National-ranking tournament and failed to make it to the two-day trials.

Considering her past contribution, her ability and experience influenced the president of the AAI, V.K. Malhotra, to include Chekrovolu as a special case. At the halfway stage of the trials, Chekrovolu stood fourth.

The three confirmed in the Indian squad, according to the AAI Secretary General, P.N. Mukherjee, will not have to undergo any more trials.

“They need to be given time to settle down and concentrate on shooting in a relaxed manner,” he told The Hindu.

The Indian squad for the third World Cup at Antalya in Turkey from May 27 to 31 will have all the four who made it to the Olympics squad.

The three top men will join Champia in the men’s team, while two top women from the two-day trials will form the women’s side along with Bombayla and Dola.

The team for the fourth World Cup at Boe in France from June 24 to 28 will consist of top archers other than those who qualified for the Olympics.

At the end of the first day of the two-day trials, Priyank Tyagi of U.P. scored 1350 in four 70m rounds in which he hit an amazing 341 twice.

Jayanta Talukdar of Steel Plant was second with 1340, Vishwas Services was third with 1328 and Rahul Banerjee of Steel Plant was fourth with 1325 points.

In the ladies section, Punya Prabha of U.P. topped at the half-way mark with a total of 1289 points. V. Pranitha of Steel Plant was second with 1275, Reena Kumari of Railways was third with 1273 and Chekrovolu of Nagaland was fourth with 1266.

The archers will go through another four rounds of 70m on Saturday. They shoot 36 arrows in each round for a total of 360 points.