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"Ashamed" Limba Ram uncertain of future
India's chief archery coach Limba Ram today lashed out at the below-par performance of the recurve archers who fell short of expectation in the 19th Commonwealth Games.
India's chief archery coach Limba Ram today lashed out at the below-par performance of the recurve archers who fell short of expectation in the 19th Commonwealth Games.
The chief coach's contract is till Commonwealth Games and Limba said that he is unsure about his future as there is a big question-mark as to whether he will get an extension. Limba said their target was to get six gold medals with four in recurve section and two in the women section but it was very disappointing to get only three.
"It's up to the federation whether they would like to extend my contract or not... As of now, I am not aware. I am really unhappy for the performance. I'm really ashamed," Limba told PTI.
Critical of the men's recurve team that lost the gold and settled for a bronze, he said: "They did not shoot the way they generally do during practice. This is really inexplicable.
"It is more embarrassing losing at home. We had earmarked four gold medals in the recurve archery (two in team and two in individuals) and two team gold medals in compound section."
Limba however said Deepika Kumari was the only brightspot for them.
India had to settle for three gold, one silver and four bronze medals in the meet as teen-aged Deepika got individual as well the team gold in recurve sections.
Archery Association of India (AAI) secretary general Paresh Nath Mukherjee was also critical of the archers performance and took the blame on himself.
Asked whether Limba would remain the India coach till the Asian Games due next month in Guangzhou, Mukherjee said: "I will tell you tomorrow. Limba is a very kind person, I am really grateful to him as coach."
He further said, "The teams for the Asian Games have been decided but we will decide on the coach shortly."
