Olympics archery: No excuse to offer, say coaches

London - India’s archery coaches Limba Ram and Ravi Shankar have no excuse to offer for their team’s disastrous show at the London Olympics.

“There are no excuses at all,” they said in an interaction at the Games village before team’s departure for India.

“We trained hard, we were given all facilities by the Archery Association of India, SAI and the government. We are also disappointed with the results.”

The six-member unit lost in the first round of the men’s and women’s event and failed to raise their game in the individual category.

Limba agreed that hype around the team had raised the expectations but it was natural.

“The archers were doing well before the Olympics. Deepika Kumari was ranked World Number 1 while our boys team came here ranked number two,” he said.

Limba couldn’t explain the sudden slump in the form of his wards. “To be honest, we came here with the hope of winning at least one medal.”

Ravi was also candid in his views. “Look I have some observations to make but please do not construe them as excuses. Olympics are a totally different ball game. Our archers have participated in several World Championships and Cups and won a few of them. But the overall aura of the Olympics is awesome and that too had a big impact. Only Tarundeep and Bombayala Devi had Olympic experience.”

He admitted that there was too much pressure on Deepika and she caved in.

“Everybody was saying that this girl was a sure medal winner and that put lots of pressure on the teenager and she could not cope up with that.

“It looks that presence of huge crowd and the glitz surrounding the venue made Deepika nervous and that showed in her results,” said Ravi.