Grand old man of Archery eyes Beijing Olympics

Guwahati, Feb 14 (UNI) Remember Limba Ram, the grand old man of Indian archery, the first real super star of the sport.

He is here in the 33rd National Games and competing with boys many of whom are born just a few years before he made his international debut. But the man says he is here not to win medals but to motivate himself. ''If I get a medal it will be a miracle. I am here to motivate myself,'' he said.

Ask him the reason and he says he wants to qualify for the Beijing Olympic 2008. Fifteen years after losing out on a medal in Barcelona Olympic, the Great Limba goes down the memory lane, saying he missed the bronze in Barcelona by just a single point and it still haunts him till date.

''My first target is World Cup 2007 which will be qualifying mark for the Beijing Olympic. If I do well than I shall be in Olympic squad.'' Limba, representing his home state Rajasthan, is competing in recurve segments which he considers his strength.

A raw talent, raised in abject poverty, Limba was spotted by an alert Sports Authority of India (SAI) official way back in 1980s and since then there has been no looking back for him although his career never reached the zenith.

These days he is busy setting up an academy with the help of the Rajasthan government. ''I have not been practicing for many months as I am busy with the academy under the supervision of Chief Minister Vasuandhara Raje,'' theman adds.

''Archery is a costly sport and without Government support it can not be run as almost everything of the sports used are to be imported from abroad,'' he said.

He admitted that a medal would make him very happy, but he adds critically ''that is unlikely''.

UNI