Opinion Weight off archers shoulders
Archer Deepika Kumaris quiver full of woes,the last time dark clouds hovered in the sky menacingly,included an untimely viral infection
Archer Deepika Kumaris quiver full of woes,the last time dark clouds hovered in the sky menacingly,included an untimely viral infection and unsettling gusts of winds. Then undermining rains clouded her shooting sighters and made her finger-tabs slippery. And finally,the weight of unnerving expectations heading into the London Olympics she was proclaimed a sure-shot medallist even before an arrow left the string bogged her down so badly that she botched her qualifiers wretchedly. That nightmare is in the past now.
Helping her unclutter that overwhelmed mind further,is the bit-news that the lengthy four-distance FITA Round (comprising 144 arrows,36 at each of 4 distances – 90,70,50,and 30 metres (for men) and 70,60,50,and 30 metres,for women) might soon pave the way for a single-distance round at 70 metres in qualification.
Come September,and the World Championships at Turkey,the long-winding FITA Round will be concised,thus helping organisers bring uniformity to tournament formats while offering a level playing field in preliminaries before the eliminators.
For Indians,it literally unburdens them of the high bow poundage (string pressure),especially for the men who are forced to haul up weightier bows to improve accuracy,velocity and power something that the bigger Americans and Italians routinely achieve with ease. With the 90 metres target disappearing from competition,the poundage can stay around 42-44,the one archer use in windy conditions,thus reducing the varied strains and stresses on the shoulders.
A standard 70-target will thus effectively reduce instances of injuries arising from cranking up poundages while chasing power over greater distances. The new rules will also greatly level out the field as the Koreans held sway in the earlier four-distance format. At 70,everyone stands a chance. And lifes less harsher on precious shoulders.
Shivani is assistant editor based in Mumbai
shivani.naik expressindia.com
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