AKASH CLAIMS INDIA’S MAIDEN ARCHERY SILVER
BUENOS AIRES: Akash Malik became India’s first silver-medallist in archery at the Youth Olympic Games, providing a fitting finale to the country’s bestever campaign at the marquee event here.
The 15-year-old son of a farmer lost a one-sided final to Trenton Cowles of the USA 0-6 as India concluded with three gold, nine silver, and one bronze at the event that was launched in 2010.
Seeded fifth after qualification, the Haryana-boy was inconsistent in the summit clash against the 15th seed Cowles, who only shot in 10s and 9s to wrap it up easily.
In the three-setter, both the archers shot four perfect 10s, but Akash’s two wayward 6s in the first and the third set proved to be the decisive factor.
“I have trained in the wind, but here it was too much,” said Akash.
“I feel good but I lost the gold medal,” added the school-boy after bettering Atul Verma’s feat of a bronze at the Nanjing edition of the Games in 2014.
Akash took up archery six years ago after Manjeet Malik, a physical-trainer-turned-archery-coach, picked him during a trial.
“He was very calm and composed and I thought he could shoot arrows steadily. He now shoots with confidence. It was raining as well when the final started,” the coach told PTI.
In 2014, Akash was part of the recurve boys team which won a gold medal at the Mini Nationals (under-14) in Vijayawada. He went on to clinch a gold medal in the Youth Olympics qualifying event last year.