How India’s archers mastered the wind for medals in Asian Games

India's archers have overcome the challenge of shooting in harsh winds to secure medals at recent Asian Games. Rahul Banerjee, a former top international Recurve archer and senior coach, shares his experience of aiming at the wrong circles due to strong gusts. He explains that Indian archers in the past feared shooting in windy conditions, describing the fear as "shaking" and pointing out that they struggled with both head and tail winds, as well as circular revolving winds in enclosed stadiums.

Banerjee emphasizes that the problem has been addressed with experienced coaches who have developed technical solutions. He highlights the importance of feeling the wind in the body and maintaining composure during cold gusts. He also stresses the need for confidence, stating that doubting one's aim in the wind can be detrimental. He attributes this confidence to the guidance provided by his archer parents, who have been his mentors since a young age.

The improvements have also come with the establishment of a high-performance center in a place like Himachal, which could help Indian archers develop better coping mechanisms against the wind. Banerjee recalls his experience at the 2009 World Championship in Ulsan, Korea, where the cold and fierce winds made shooting a painful experience. However, he persevered and managed to finish in the Top 10 with a score of 640.

Currently, Casey Kaufhold, the women's Recurve World champion, follows in the footsteps of her archer parents, starting to shoot arrows at the age of three. She credits her success to her supreme self-confidence, which she developed through guidance from her family and coaches. Mike Schloesser, a Compound legend, also shares his experience of shooting in dire winds during the 2013 World Championship in Antalya, where he managed to walk away with a big smile despite the challenging conditions.