Paris Olympics: Indian Archers start their preparations at the Games Village Before Qualification Rounds

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Indian archers have arrived in Paris, brimming with excitement and readiness for the 2024 Olympics and are all set to aim for India's first-ever Olympic medal in the sport. The squad, featuring six archers, is set to compete in five categories.

Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai, both seasoned Olympians, are gearing up for their fourth Games, bringing invaluable experience. Pravin Jadhav returns for his second Olympics, while Dhiraj Bommadevara, Bhajan Kaur, and Ankita Bhakat will make their Olympic debuts.

Their preparation has been thorough. After training and acclimatizing in Compiegne, France, they were among the first to enter the Paris Games Village. The preparation has been meticulous, focusing on scientific training, mental conditioning, and fine-tuning domestic tournaments to match the Olympic format.

Both the men's and women's archery teams have qualified for Paris 2024 based on their current world rankings. According to World Archery, the Indian men's team is ranked second, just behind South Korea, while the women's team holds the eighth position.

The Indian men's archery team has shown exceptional form this year. In April, the trio of Rai, Jadhav, and Bommadevara made history by winning a World Cup gold in Shanghai, defeating the reigning Olympic champions, the Republic of Korea.

Sanjeeva Singh, the High Performance Director at the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) National Centre of Excellence for archery, is optimistic about the team's medal prospects, particularly in the men's individual, men's team, and mixed team events.

"If we go by current form and the way the archers are performing, we can realistically look at three medals - men's individual, men's team and mixed team. Out of these three, one will definitely happen. A medal from the women's competition will be a bonus but the team has to click together," said Singh in IOA press release.

For veterans like Deepika Kumari and Tarundeep Rai, their experience will be crucial. As the archery competitions start at the Esplanade des Invalides on July 25 and run through August 4, the Indian team is ready to showcase their hard work and determination.

"Deepika has matured a lot and did well in two World Cups. Her role will be very important because she is anchoring the team. She needs to finish boldly and confidently. A lot depends on her frame of mind," Singh said.