I`m expecting a medal from Deepika: Limba Ram

Deepika Kumari becoming World No 1 in Women`s Recurve Archery has raised expectations of her making it to the podium at the London Games and national coach Limba Ram on Sunday said the young archer has all the qualities to bag a medal at the mega-event.

New Delhi: Deepika Kumari becoming World No 1 in Women`s Recurve Archery has raised expectations of her making it to the podium at the London Games and national coach Limba Ram today said the young archer has all the qualities to bag a medal at the mega-event.

"I`m expecting a medal from Deepika (Kumari)," said Limba Ram on the sidelines of a send-off program. "Deepika is at her peak. She is young and energetic and is never ready to lose. She is very sincere when its comes to training and this will pay her at the big stage. "Right now, she is unwell and physically weak. She is facing a bit of problem in shooting against the wind. Hopefully, she recovers in time ahead of the Games," he added. Though he is expecting a medal from Deepika, the coach said other Olympic-bound archers Jayanta Talukdar, Rahul Banerjee, Tarundeep Rai, Laishram Bombayla Devi and Chekrovolu Swuro also have bright chances in the two team events. "The team had prepared well and I am hopeful that they can spring some surprises at the London Games. They have a golden chance and mentally they are very confident," Ram, a three-time Olympian, said. "Bombayla (Devi) is also shooting well. Chekrovolu (Swuro) was struggling with shooting against the wind but now she had improved. "Among men, Jayanta (Talukdar) and Tarundeep (Rai) are in good form, so they are also bright medal hopes in individual category." Deepika will lead the women`s challenge in London, while the experience of Athens Olympian Rai and Beijing Games-returned Bombayla is also expected to come in handy. Stating that the weather conditions will play a big role, Limba Ram said, "The weather will be extremely different from that of Kolkata (humid or hot) where the team was training for the last few days. The London weather will mostly favour the Europeans. But we will have 10 days time in hand to adjust. I am sure the team will acclimatise to the conditions there." India have never won an Olympic medal in archery, while this is the first time after Athens 2004 Olympics that the country will have representation in all the four events. PTI