Baba Ramdev to train Indian archers for Rio Games

According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, believed to compiled in 400 AD, "In order to practise asana as a meditative path, you will need to learn how to let go of habitual responses to physical and mental distractions during the practice."

Be it the 2012 London Olympics or the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, Indian archers buckled under pressure. And Archery Association of India (AAI) president Vijay Kumar Malhotra has approached none other than Baba Ramdev to conduct yoga sessions with the archers.

Veteran BJP leader Malhotra has approached Ramdev and is now waiting for the spiritual leader to come up with a programme consisting of "mental and physical training sessions" for all the national campers. "We have realised that our archers need yoga sessions in order to become mentally strong during intense competitions. This, I feel, will help our archers win medals at the Rio Olympics next year," Malhotra said on Tuesday.

dna has learnt that many senior archers, including Deepika Kumari, requested the AAI to hold yoga lessons. "Yoga can be of immense help to any archer because it will certainly help us becoming mentally tough," Kumari said.

Her teammate, Rimil Buriuly, who was part of the squad that won the silver at the recent World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, welcomed the idea of getting Ramdev on board. "If Baba Ramdev is going to train us, then nothing like it," Buriuly said.

Over the years, Indian archers have come a cropper in crunch situations. Kumari, for instance, was ranked World No. 1 before the London Games. But she failed to hit the target when it mattered the most.

"I will speak to Baba Ramdev in a day or two. I am sure he will help our archers," Malhotra added. He also plans to ask Ramdev to do everything for free. "AAI doesn't have funds. The government has suspended us."

Kumari's coach, Dharmendra Tiwari, said, "Archery is a mental game and I feel yoga can help our archers become mentally stronger," he said.