“Good technical training is helping Indian archers in their quest for Olympic medal”: Kim Heung Tak

New Delhi: World renowned archery coach Kim Heung Tak feels consistency in training and preparation will help India clinch its first Olympic medal in archery at Paris 2024. Korean organized coach with over 40 years of coaching experience at various levels. ‘Seminar at the National Center of Excellence of Sports Authority of India at Sonipat, Haryana. More than 30 trainers participated.

“The Indian recurve team is undergoing very strong technical training. There is good communication all the time between the archers and the coaches too. This will definitely help in achieving good results in the Olympics. Maintaining this consistency in training and preparation is very important.” It is necessary.” “It is possible to get a medal in Paris,” Kim said in an exclusive interview with SAI Media.

So far, only Dheeraj Bommadevara has won a Paris 2024 quota spot for India in archery. Indian recurve archers are currently striving for a team quota in the final qualification tournament to be held in Antalya, Turkey from June 14 to 17. There is an atmosphere of excitement in the Indian camp after Bommadevra, Tarundeep Rai and Praveen Jadhav shocked the reigning Olympic champions. On April 28, South Korea won a historic World Cup gold medal in Shanghai after 14 years.

“The average level of the team has gone up a notch because of the talented men’s and women’s recurve team here. Frequent coaching camps by the Sports Authority of India and the Archery Association of India are also contributing to the cause and the continued support is what made the team win in Los Angeles in 1984. “Helping the team get that elusive medal at the Olympics,” said Kim Heung Tak, who led the Korean women’s recurve team to its first Olympic gold medal at the Games.

Kim, research director of the Korean Archery Association and former head coach of Taiwan, also inspected the two-day national team preparation camp in Sonipat. The SAI-AAI camp was funded by the National Thermal Power Corporation under its CSR programme. NTPC has pledged Rs 115 crore for Indian archery over a period of five years.

Explaining why he sees a good future for Indian archery, Kim, who has trained over 500 archers from 30 countries, said, “There are many young archers and it is good for the future of Indian archery. Having experienced leaders like Deepika (Kumari), Tarundeep guiding the young archers helps a lot in team building and is very important for the preparation for the Paris Games.” Kim had a special session with three-time Olympian Deepika. Kiya, who is looking to make it to Paris 2024 on the back of some strong performances after motherhood.

Kim praised the coaching program at SAI, Sonipat. The NCOE has delivered consistent results in recent times and Indian archers have won over 100 international medals in the last season.

“Since I came here, I have provided more high-level and detailed training to the archers. The training programs, which use a lot of technology, are also very well designed. The coaches manage to continuously train the archers. “Schedule a training schedule,” Kim said. The psychology team is also working around the clock and overall good advice is being provided.”