AAI ropes in sports psychologist ahead of Rio Olympics: Report

New Delhi: With the 2016 Rio Olympics coming up, the Archery Association of India (AAI) has roped in US-based sports psychologist Lorenzo Beltram ahead of the World Cup stage-3 to be held in Antalya, Turkey, from June 11 to 20.

According to a report in DNA, Lorenzo, who has worked with the US archery team before, will accompany the team to Rio in August.

The AAI is mainly looking at provide maximum help to the Indian archery contingent knowing that the tournament will be the last qualification event to reserve the men's team berth for the Rio Games.

Ahead of Rio, the women's recurve team of Deepika Kumari, Laxmi Rani Majhi and Rimil Buriuly have secured a quota berth, earned from the World Championship held in Copenhagen in July 2015. While the men's individual section will be represented by Mangal Singh Champia, the team event is yet to qualify.

AAI treasurer Virender Sachdeva said that the Indian archers will participate in a top class mini international tournament in Antalya and that the board had requested the European archery federations and other countries to participate in the tournament.

“Before the World Cup stage-3, the Indian archers will participate in a top class mini international tournament in Antalya in May, which will be attended by all top archery playing nations from Europe. The AAI had requested the European archery federations and other countries to participate in the tournament along with India with an eye on the crucial World Cup as well as the Rio Olympics," he said.

He went on to add that the AAI is sending two separate teams for the events and that some top teams from the globe are taking part.

"They accepted the invitation and this will help the Indian archers prepare physically and mentally for the tough road ahead. The teams from Georgia, Netherlands and Armenia are among some of the European nations that have agreed to participate in the tournament. Similarly, teams from the US, Malaysia and Turkey will also be coming. We will be sending two separate teams of six men's and six women's archers," he added.

Ahead of the World Cup, the Indian archers (men and women) will take part in the World Cup stage-1 at Shanghai from April 24 to May 2, followed by the World Cup stage-2 to be held at Medellin, Colombia, from May 8 to 15.

The archery team will look to perform well in these tournaments and gain valuable experience ahead of the Rio Olympics.