Importance of sports science
Two-time Olympian and Arjuna Award winning archer Dola Banerjee believes that if athletes are given knowledge of sports science from an early age, India's chances of winning medals in international competitions can increase.
During an event at SAI NCOE Naranpura, Dola said that facilities like nutritionist, psychologist and massage were not available during her time. Towards the end of his career he incorporated meditation, which seemed unnecessary at the time, but is extremely important in today's competitive sports.
He said that these facilities should be included in the training of athletes right from childhood and it is necessary to take them to the grassroots level.
Dola advised current athletes to incorporate sports science into their everyday practice. He said that just practicing is no longer enough; If someone is practicing seven hours a day, he should also spend at least two hours on sports science.
Prospects in Asian Games
Expressing hope for good results in the Asian Games, Dola said that there are many junior players in the team who play without pressure, which increases their chances of good performance. India has a good ranking in compound archery, so there are expectations from this event.
He told that in the last Asian Games, the men's team had won silver and the women's team had won bronze medals. Dheeraj Bommadevara's form is also good, and he hopes to win an individual medal this time.
Talking about finishing fourth in the Paris Olympics 2024, Dola said that it is an improvement. He said that sports culture should be promoted in the country, especially in schools, and parents should encourage their children to take up sports.