ACE archer Jayanta Talukdar will not be part of the Indian team at the Antalya World Cup Tournament (Stage III), beginning from May 28 till June 2.

As if this was not a big shock, the Archery Association of India (AAI) dropped another bombshell, deciding not to send teams for the compound events. The reason: our archers don’t measure up to world standards. At the end of a three-day trials in Pune, the AAI has opted for a new team — specially in the men’s section — for the world meet.

The teams, selected after the completion of the second national ranking event, comprise Tarundeep Rai, Rahul Banerjee, Harish Kerai and Priyank in the men’s section and Dola Banerjee, Chekrovolu Swuro, Punya Prabha and Bombyala Devi in women’s category. Mun Baek Woon and Dharmender Tiwary will accompany the teams as coaches.

A major overhaul was on the cards after the teams fared poorly in the first event of the World Cup series at Ulsan in Korea. Miffed at the archers’ performance, the federataion made screening procedures stringent in Pune. The top 16 among men and eight among women were made to compete in three Olympic rounds to make the cut.

By dropping the country’s No. 1 archer, the AAI has sent the right signals. It was not that Talukdar was completely out of form. He along with Mangal Singh and Robin Handsa won the recurve team event on the last day beating Rai, Banerjee and Kerai in the final. Yet, his performance failed to impress the selectors.

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