For all the years he has spent in India, it is perhaps surprising that the Indian recurve archery team’s newly appointed foreign coach Chae Woong Lim is yet to gain proficiency in English.
When asked whether he has learnt Hindi, he sheepishly replies “ Thoda sa (a bit).”
As nobody is around to translate his words, he asks this writer to speak slowly in English
More than a decade has passed since the South Korean began to coach Indian archers. Now relieved from his duties with the country’s army, Lim will be able to devote more time to the development of the national side.
One can’t help but ask him about the difficulties he may have faced in his day-to-day communication with the archers. Lim, however, doesn’t perceive it as an obstacle.
“The vocabulary of archery is limited. I have no problem when it comes to my coaching duties. It is only outside that I encounter difficulties,” responds the South Korean, with a charming smile permanently posited on his face.
Long-term vision
Lim is eager to present himself as a man who has a long-term vision for the national team.
It’s clear that he will judge his tenure on the basis of India’s performance at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero.
“It is important to do well now but winning a medal in 2016 is the target. India doesn’t have a problem in winning at World Championships, Asian or Commonwealth Games. But when it comes to Olympics, the performance isn’t good,” laments Lim, in the city for the third National-ranking archery tournament at the Yamuna Sports Complex.
The national team for 2013’s third and fourth World Cup in Medellin (Colombia) and Wroclaw (Poland), respectively, will be announced here.
The Indian junior side for the second Asian Grand Prix, to be held in Ulaanbaatar later this year, will also be named.
The South Korean aims to learn more about the archers at the aforementioned events and work on their weaknesses afterwards.
Lim also claims he will have a greater focus on the juniors as they have more potential to improve with basic training.
When asked to rate the facility at the YSC, the foreign coach praised it and believed it is good enough to hold a continental event.
