Yet to earn a quota for Olympics, the Indian men's archery team alongwith the Rio-bound women's team will be sent for a 10-day exposure trip to Turkey where the final qualification for the Games is slated in June.
As of now the women's team have secured a quota berth from the World Championship in Copenhagen July last year where Mangal Singh Champia also earned a berth in individual section but the men's team are yet to qualify for the Olympics.
Detailing out their extensive preparation for Olympics, Archery Association of India general secretary Anil Kamineni today said that top six men and women archers will be sent to Antalya for a 10-day exposure trip in March-April during which they will also compete in an invitational tournament.
"Antalya hosts a top class International tournament (Kahr Bagatir) for three days. A lot of top teams come for the tournament. It will be a great exposure for our archers," Kamineni told PTI here today.
"Our archers will reach there three days in advance so they will have few more days of match practice beside competing."
From Turkey, the Indian archers will travel to Shanghai where they will begin their 2016 calendar with World Cup Stage I from April 26-May 1.
The World Cup Stage II is slated in Medellin from May 9-15 while the all-important Olympic qualification will be held in the World Cup Stage III in Antalya from June 12-19 as they will again return to the same city.
"Their prior experience in the same place should give them an edge," he said about the Olympics archery event which is slated in Rio from August 5-12.
The AAI is also contemplating to hold India camp in either Bengaluru or Ooty to get similar conditions as that of Rio in August.
"The temperature will be in the range of 19-20 during in August in Rio as Bengaluru or Ooty will be ideal for camp. We're also focusing on mental toughness training. We're very hopeful getting success," Kamineni said.
As for future events, the top AAI official further said India will host Asian Championship in 2019 and there will be another top competition in 2017.
