Archers return home after booking their berth for Olympics

Kolkata, June 27 (ANI): Indian men's archery team returned home on Wednesday from Odgen, United States after reserving their berth in the upcoming London Olympics.

The team arrived in Kolkata to an overwhelming welcome from friends and fans.

Archers Jayanta Talukdar, Rahul Banerjee and Tarundeep Rai finished second, as they lost to US in the qualification round of the 3rd rd Stage World Cup Archery Championship.

Speaking to mediapersons, Jayanta Talukdar said, "We are feeling good as the team has qualified for the Olympics. We have now a chance to win four medals as we can individually grab three medals and one as a whole team. Everybody is working hard and will try to secure atleast one medal in the archery event," Talukdar said.

Tarundeep Rai, another archer, said that they were confident of securing a gold medal at London.

"We are also little sad because we do not have much time for the preparation and peak at the Olympics. Hence with whatever time we have, we will prepare for the Olympiad and would polish our current form so that we can convert our silver medal in gold and we are trying hard for that," Rai said.

Indian archers have earned maximum six quota slots including three women and three men for the London Olympic Games.

The women's team comprising Deepika Kumari, Laishram Bombayla Devi and Chekrovolu Swuro had also qualified for Olympics by securing silver medal in the 2011 World Championship at Turin. (ANI)