Date:05/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/05/stories/2009070556321400.htm

Sport - Archery

Asian GP shifted to Kolkata

NEW DELHI: The Archery Association of India (AAI) has decided to shift the venue of the fourth Asian Grand Prix from Delhi to Kolkata.

The event, scheduled to be held in the Capital from September 15 to 19, is being shifted to the eastern metropolis because of funds crunch. The AAI took the decision at its annual general meeting here on Saturday.

“We learnt that the maximum grant the government can give us is Rs 1,500 per athlete per day. In Delhi, it’s difficult to arrange board, lodging and transportation for an athlete with this kind of money. So, the event was shifted to Kolkata,” an AAI official told The Hindu.

He said the national federation would bear other expenses of the Grand Prix.

Besides, National championships were allotted to different State associations. As per the allotment, Raipur will hold the junior Nationals in November while it is a toss up between Jaisalmer and Udaipur to conduct the sub-junior Nationals in October.

The Nationals in the Indian round will be organised in Goa in the first week of December while the recurve and compound championships will be held in Guwahati in the last week of the month. Apart from that, there will be a mini Nationals in Vijaywada in August.

Meanwhile, the AAI has recommended the names of World Cup gold medallist archers Mangal Singh Champia and Rahul Banerjee for the Arjuna Award. — Sports Reporter