Preparations intensify for the start of National Archery Championship amidst bad weather

A major challenge has emerged for the organisers of the competition due to rain and hailstones ahead of the National Archery Championship, which is set to begin in Shillong on Thursday, according to a report by The Hindu. Due to the rain on the day before the competition, organisers had to scramble to prepare the field as water logged the parade ground. The condition of the field was particularly affected by water accumulation between the shooting line and some of the targets.

Robinson Rinthathyang, Secretary of the Archery Association of Meghalaya, expressed confidence regarding the preparation of the field for this mega event. He stated that this is a test event for the National Games, which will test the capacity for competition management and logistics.

This National Championship will serve as a qualifying event for the National Games, in which the top 8 players from each category will be able to participate in the National Games. Big names such as Asian Games medal winners Kumkum Mohod, Chikitha Taniparthi, B. Dhiraj, and Sahil Jadav are set to participate in this competition, making the championship attractive.

In recurve archers, players like Kumkum, Dhiraj, Ankita Bhakat, and Neeraj Chauhan, as well as Sahil, Chikitha, and Kushal Dalal in compound archers, will strive to continue their success. On the other hand, experienced players Deepika Kumari, Atanu Das, Abhishek Verma, and Ojas Deotale will participate vigorously in this competition to regain their form before the important 2027 calendar. The World Championship is scheduled to be held in 2027, which is a major event for Olympic qualifying.

For Kumkum Mohod, who broke Korean dominance in the Asian Games, this is an opportunity to prove her excellence. Kumkum's personal coach, Praful Dange, stated that for Kumkum, the goal is to focus on the process and deliver her best performance. Speaking about his preparation, experienced player Abhishek Verma said that junior archers have progressed significantly. He added that they have had sufficient time to refine themselves and this platform is to see how much they have progressed.

However, the absence of some big players will also be noted in this competition. Well-known names such as Aditi Swami, Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumurru, and Prathika Pradeep will not participate in these Nationals, as they are competing in the Asia Cup Stage-3 in Hangzhou, China.

Archery is a sport in which a specific target is struck using a bow and arrow. This competition tests the concentration and physical ability of the players.