Jayanta, Dola to spearhead strong Indian challenge in Archery

Doha, Dec 8 (UNI) World Championship gold medal winner Jayanta Taluakdar and Silver medallist Dola Banerjee will spearhead India's strong challenge in the archery competition of the 15th Asian Games starting here tomorrow.

India has been taking part in the competition since 1982 but till now they have not yet won any medal. But recent shows by the Indians have raised hopes that the archers will make it to the podium finish this time.

The field here is world class and the Koreans, with several record holders in their ranks, would start favourite. But, for once, the Indians are not going to be push-over.

The recent showing by Talukdar -- he equalled a world record in the 70m with a score of 340 at a Commonwealth meet in Jamshedpur last month -- has raised the Indian hopes.

Eight Indians, including four women, will be in the field, battling it out with higher ranked archers from the continent.

Talukdar has been in very good form this year, having won the Gold in the 2006 Asian Grand Prix in Bangkok, besides in the world championship title in Porec.

In the women's section, the experienced Dola Banerjee will have in her company Reena Kumari, Chekrowolu Swuroand Punya Prabha.

Dola, Reena and Swuro, have given some good performances in recent international meets and if they can reproduce the same here, they won't return empty hand from the meet.

Dola had won the Gold in the European Grand prix in Antalya last year and the Gold in both the individual and team event in the SAF Games. And in the world championship in Madrid, she won a Silver in the team championship.

However, the event is likely to see fierce battle between arch-rivals Korea and China for the hegemony in this sport. Japan and Chinses Taipei are also strong contender and one country which can also spring surprise is Bhutan.

The comptitions starts with the men and women's individual qualifications rounds (FITA).

Indian team: Men : Jayanta Talukdar, Tarundeep Rai, Vishwas and Mangal Singh.

Women: Dola Banerjee, Reena Kumari, Chekrowolu Swuro and Punya Prabha.

UNI HSB AY ND1736