Close on the heels of archers from the A.P. Sports School winning handsomely in the national ranking championship in Delhi, coach Pallela Ravi Shankar has been named coach of the Indian senior team for the Asian Grand Prix Archery championship to be held in Bangkok from March 10 to 16.
“It is a huge honour to coach the Indian team. What gives me greater satisfaction is that my trainee Charan Reddy is also in the team for the Asian Grand Prix,” says the 49-year-old coach, who travels 70 km daily to the Sports School in Hakimpet to train the archers.
Mr. Ravi Shankar, who has a doctorate from Osmania University, believes the team has the talent to bag a few medals. Charan, and others like Isaiah R. Sanam, B. Hemalatha, N. Kavitha, A. Ravali and K. Jyothi are among the medal prospects for this year’s Asiad.
Undeterred by meagre earnings, the coach’s success mantra has been scientific skills and a combination of yoga and acupuncture.
“I am grateful to officials at the Sports School and SAAP for their support,” he says.
