Deepika, Jayanata may go to S Korea for training

Tata Steel plans to send woman archer Deepika Kumari and Jayanta Talukdar, the lone recurve archer qualified for the mega event, to South Korea for training ahead of the Olympics.

Yes, it is almost final and we will send the Olympics medal prospects Deepika Kumar and Talukdar to South Korea in March, said Tata Archery Academy (TAA)'s South Korea Coach, Lim Chae Woong.

They will be accompanied by TAA woman coach-cum-former Asian gold medalist, Purnima Mahto, Woong said.

Asked when they will leave for South Korea, the South Korean coach said Indian team will take part in Asian Grand Prix to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from February 14 to 20 and then leave for World cup archery championship stage-I to be held in Shanghai, China from April 10 to 15.

Hence, the TAA cadets, both qualified for the London Olympics, will leave for South Korea in between the completion of Archery Asian Grand Prix in Bangkok and Stage-I World cup archery Championship, Woong said.

The tentative period for reaching South Korea will be in the last week of March, he said.

Oozing confidence of a good show particularly by 18-year-old Deepika Kumari, he said the purpose of sending her was to undergo training in South Korea and perfection of her skills before the London Olympics.

Keeping the track record of Deepika Kumari, the South Korean said, "Her performance was at par with the top Korean archers and it would be a suitable venue for her to undergo training."